The chief of Pitch and Ground Committee was asked by the Board of Control for Cricket in India to be present here to monitor the pitch preparation. The official reason was that Central Zone head curator Kishore Pradhan had fallen ill and he has been taking rest at Nagpur.

Daljit's presence at a venue before an international match is not any surprise, but considering the developments of the last fortnight or so, it assumes a lot more importance. Pitch has been in focus during the first two Tests, in Chennai and Ahemdabad, for different reasons.

If the Chennai pitch was an absolute shirtfront where both the sides piled up runs, South African bowlers dominated on a green-tinged surface in Ahmedabad, notching up a win inside three days.

It has been widely anticipated that a rank turner will be prepared in Kanpur, but Daljit denied that he was under any specific instruction to set up such a pitch. "It will be a sporting wicket, with both batsmen and bowlers getting equal amount of assistance."

The veteran curator also said heat could affect the pitch, as temperature can soar to mid 40s during the summer. He emphasised on that factor and said the spinners might come into play as the match progresses.

Local curator Shiv Kumar too stressed on that point. "Such extreme heat will affect the pitch preparation. The pitch will assist the spinners later on. Though there is grass on the pitch, it is a dead grass. This is a result oriented pitch," Kumar said.

In Ahmedabad, local curator Dhiraj Parsana had said that grass was maintained to avoid the early disintegration of the pitch. So, if Kumar's words can be believed, a turner is what is in store for the South Africans, who hope to seal the series here. Indians will certainly be pleased to hear that news.

For the record, India have never lost a Test at this venue. They have won seven matches, while drawing the rest 12. The last match at this venue produced a rather tame draw with Virender Sehwag and Andrew Hall slamming hundreds.

Teams arrive
Meanwhile, the Indian and South African teams arrived here on Tuesday evening, but they were confined to the hotel rooms. Ishant Sharma and Ramesh Powar too joined the team on the day.

There will be fitness test for the Delhi pace bowler on April 10, while Powar is a back-up for skipper Anil Kumble, who has not fully recovered from a right groin niggle that he had picked up during the first Test.

The Bangalorean also will undergo a fitness test on Thursday, and two national selectors will reach here on Wednesday to monitor the proceedings.

There might also be a fitness assessment for S Sreesanth, who had suffered a shoulder strain in Ahmedabad.
Harbhajan Singh, who along with Kumble skipped practice session on Tuesday, is also likely to undergo a fitness test.