#INDvNZ: Cracks in the Kanpur pitch point to spin fest for 500th Test

It was not long ago, in 2012, when Graeme Swann and Monty Panesar together trapped Indian batting in their own spinning web. The pitches then, which were made to suit Indian spinners, turned out to be graveyard for home batters.

But then that was a transition period for Indian cricket. With Anil Kumble calling it a day and new spinning duo of R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha overshadowing ineffective Harbhajan Singh.

Now, Indian team under Virat Kohli looks settled after recent series victory in Sri Lanka and West Indies. In fact, the hosts can again climb up to No. 1 Test ranking in the world if they win this three-Test series against visiting New Zealand starting here in Kanpur on Thursday even by a 1-0 margin.

But there is a catch.

The Green Park Stadium wicket, on the eve of the first Test, already has many cracks. Chief curator Shiv Kumar has been trying his best to dish out a wicket that should at least not turn left and right for first two days. This is the reason he asked few local boys to bowl few spin deliveries on the match wicket to judge the speed and bounce of the wicket.

Knowing well how Indian batting has also failed on numerous occasions against the top quality spin attack, the curator here would not want a rank turner doled out for the historic 500th Test of India. So, he has been trying hard to keep the wicket a bit moist with light sprinkle till the start of the match in his desperate bid to not allow cracks to widen up.

With 13 straight Tests lined up at home, a perfect beginning for Team India is the only motive for all the groundsmen here. This is almost similar winning combination for hosts which was instrumental in grounding South African team to a humiliating 3-0 loss. The likes of Murali Vijay, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane along with spin trio of Ashwin, Amit Mishra and Ravindra Jadeja are eagerly looking for an opportunity to repeat the 2015 heroics.

For visiting New Zealanders, there can't be a toughest challenge than this in Kanpur. Having known how hot humid conditions and choking atmosphere of Kanpur will test their character, Black Caps would be eager to see how their young spin brigade — Mitchell Santner, Mark Craig and Ish Sodhi — would adapt to the conditions and pressure on the tour.

The dry wicket has also given hopes to Kiwis skipper Kane Williamson that his world class speedster Trent Boult could get some early reverse swing. Though, the injury to Tim Southee has dealt a serious body blow to visitors before the series but then Neil Wagner could well be a big factor in his scheme of things. His ability to reverse swing could well be forcing the team management to think hard before announcing the final eleven.

Four or five bowlers?

Ever since Kohli took over India's captaincy, India have been playing with five specialist bowlers on almost regular basis. It was only in Sri Lanka that an all-rounder was included along with four bowlers to strengthen the batting.

But it's certainly going to be a dilemma for India's young skipper to pick between an extra batsman or a bowler here in Kanpur because of the recent past experience against Black Caps. Who has forgotten the Twenty20 World Cup match in Nagpur earlier this year when New Zealand left out all their seamers and played with three specialist spinners, Nathan McCullum was there for Craig, in Nagpur to produce the shocker of the tournament.

After scoring below par 126 then, the visiting spinners folded the hosts up 47-run short of the total with the help of three spinners.

The situation could well be similar, except that batters will have to chip in with their part. And this will certainly not be the easiest of things to do if the past record is taken into account where New Zealand has only won two Tests on Indian soil.

For Kohli also, a situation where team loses toss and bowls first could well be tricky if he chooses to go with a batsman short. The reason is simple, Indian batters have equally been exposed against quality spinners in their own backyard.

England had showed it to the world then, but to repeat it a team needs an inspirational batting skills of Alastair Cook or Kevin Pietersen. Can Williamson or Ross Taylor could repeat that is the question which would be answered in next few days.