Narayan Raju told Deccan Herald on Thursday that he expected the track to have reasonable bounce and pace throughout. “We got soil from Mandya to prepare this surface, and I am sure we will have a good track that should make for a good contest,” Raju said.

Raju admitted that the inclement weather of the last couple of days had added a whole new dimension. “There is nothing we can do about the weather,” he went on. “Obviously, if it continues to be cloudy, there will be help for the swing bowlers. There is a little bit of moisture. We had wanted it to be 20 percent by the time the match began. In fact, we got the moisture content tested just today, and it showed 30 percent.

“If things go according to plan and the sun comes out, then we will be well on track. I feel that by the second or third day, the track will quicken up and the bounce will be more once the moisture comes out and the surface becomes dry,” added Raju.

The gentle smattering of grass isn’t likely to play a decisive role. At the end of the day, the pitch never does, but there is something about the appearance of the playing surface that has always captured the imagination. Pitches have generally tended to belie pre-match predictions; Raju is hoping that his preparation has been meticulous enough to this track to play as per expectations.