Mumbai, Oct 19: International Cricket Council's pitch consultant Andy Atkinson will try a revolutionary technique for improving the pitch for tomorrow's Champions Trophy clash between New Zealand and Sri Lanka at the Brabourne Stadium. Atkinson is going to use a commonly used builders' glue - Poly Vinyl Acetate -- on the pitch for extra binding of the playing rectangle.
The burly Englishman has flown down here following an SOS from the ICC after the pitches prepared for the matches drew flak for their unpredictable bounce and alarming turn. "I flew down here this morning on summons from the ICC and have seen only a few minutes of the match held between South Africa and New Zealand," Atkinson said.
"I am going to use the adhesive PVA, which is available in hardware stores to try and bind the wicket for tomorrow's match. If the trial is successful it may be tried in the final (November 5)," said Atkinson at a media conference today. Atkinson explained that this technique has not been used before in India but had been tried out successfully in Eden Park, New Zealand and Old Trafford in Manchester, England. (Agencies)
