Practicing and playing cricket at a professional level in Mangalore was so far limited to mat wickets and very recently Astro turf wickets. However, cricket enthusiasts of Mangalore are not too far away from practicing the trades of the game on turf wickets.
Under the supervision of Karnataka State Cricket Association (KSCA), six turf wickets have been laid at the Sahyadri College premises where players selected by the Dakshina Kannada Cricket Association (DKCA) will carry out practice, all set to gain an all new experience of taking the level a notch higher.
“The KSCA has a MoU with the Sahyadri Institution and the land has been taken by KSCA on lease for three years. KSCA will hold complete authority of the land and it will be spending on the development and maintenance of the wickets. It has been made clear to the College authorities that they cannot use the land”, says Dr. Srikanth Rai, President, DKCA.
“At the moment the clay wickets are covered with grass. Players will start practicing on these wickets from Monday. We have already selected 50 players from the Under 16 and Under 19 categories who will be practicing there free of cost. These pitches will be full turf pitches. They are being rolled every day. We have three rollers and three grass cutters”, Dr. Rai adds.
The formal inauguration of the turf wickets is scheduled for December 10. KSCA office bearers including President Anil Kumble and Secretary Javagal Srinath are expected to arrive in Mangalore for the purpose.
Speaking to Coastaldigest.com, Javagal Srinath, Former India pacer and Secretary, KSCA, said that the turf wickets will play a big role in enhancing the quality of practice for the players. “It is one thing to play on a mat wicket and another to play on the turf wicket. People demand a stadium for Mangalore but the reality is that there are no proper wickets and grounds for players to practice in the first place. This step has been taken keeping in mind better exposure for players”, he said.
The Sahyadri premises will be the second place in Mangalore to have turf wickets, Infosys campus in Mudipu being the other. But the Infosys wickets are meant to be used only by Infosys employees. For budding professional cricketing talent, the Sahyadri wickets will serve as the first of its kind opportunity to play and practice the game on turf surfaces. Manipal in Udupi district also has turf wicket facility.
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