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Ranchi Pitch for 4th Test – Describing the pitch for the upcoming fourth Test against India as ‘intriguing,’ England captain Ben Stokes & fellow team-mate Ollie Pope remarked that they have never witnessed anything quite like it before. The penultimate match of the five-game series is set to take place in Ranchi starting from Friday, February 23.

Following a decisive defeat in the third Test in Rajkot, where India dominated and secured a resounding 434-run victory, the tourists are eager to make a comeback. The series currently stands at 2-1 in favor of India. Unlike the typical turning pitches encountered by visiting teams in India, England has played on more balanced wickets in the first three Tests.

Despite suffering a comprehensive loss in the third Test, England had earlier surprised India with a 28-run victory in Hyderabad and displayed promise in the second Test, despite ultimately losing by 106 runs. Looking ahead to the upcoming match, England aimed for a strong performance, but the challenge is expected to intensify due to the nature of the pitch in Ranchi.

Although the English team has been careful in expressing their opinions about the pitch to prevent any pessimism within the squad, Ben Stokes struggled to provide an optimistic response when questioned about the Ranchi pitch. The England captain observed visible cracks on the pitch, and his reaction indicates that he was taken aback by the conditions.

“I don’t have a clue; it’s something I’ve never seen before, so I can’t predict what might happen,” remarked Ben Stokes regarding the pitch. “I’m uncertain about it. When you looked from certain angles, it appeared different from what I’m accustomed to, especially here in India. Initially, it seemed green and grassy in the dressing rooms, but once you stepped onto the field, it had a distinct appearance – very dark, crumbly, with quite a few visible cracks,” he added.

Both India and England have commenced their practice sessions in Ranchi for the fourth Test, carefully assessing the pitch to anticipate its behavior at the start and as the match progresses. Ollie Pope, after inspecting the pitch, described it as intriguing, dispelling the notion that it will be a batting-friendly wicket with a firm surface. Pope noted the presence of several cracks, a plate-like texture, and dampness during their examination. He suggested that if exposed to sunlight, the pitch might dry but observed a crusty top layer. Pope further remarked that one half of the pitch appears promising, while the other exhibits numerous plate-like cracks. # Ranchi Pitch for 4th Test

Pope emphasized the significance of winning the toss in the upcoming Test, suggesting that batting first might provide a slight advantage, as observed in the previous three matches where the team batting first emerged victorious. The right-handed batsman also disclosed the presence of rough patches on both ends, located outside the off-stump. He acknowledged that this condition could favor spinners like Ravi Ashwin, Jadeja, Tom Hartley, Rehan Ahmed, and Kuldeep Yadav.

Additionally, Ollie Pope cautioned his teammates about the specific lengths that Indian spinners might target. “Currently, there is a rough outside the right-hander’s off-stump from the far end, and from this end, outside the left-hander’s off-stump. It’s crucial to be mindful of the lengths they might aim for,” Pope added. # Ranchi Pitch for 4th Test

Before exiting the press room, Ollie Pope expressed a hope that the curators would maintain an even layer of grass on the pitch. However, he acknowledged the slim chances of that happening, particularly after discovering that the pitch had been watered during his inspection. His belief strengthened upon learning that Jasprit Bumrah would not be participating in the fourth Test, indicating that there might be no grass left on the pitch. Pope concluded, “If they decide to retain some grass or shave it off, there’s a possibility they might opt for the latter, especially considering the watering. With Jasprit absent, they may lean towards removing the grass. We’ll likely have to wait and see.” # Ranchi Pitch for 4th Test

Meanwhile, for the fourth Test, India has opted to rest Jasprit Bumrah, with reports suggesting that the uncapped Akash Deep will take his place in the playing eleven. If the pitch turns out to be a challenging one, India may not feel the absence of Bumrah significantly, and they will be relying on the expertise of players like Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja to excel in such conditions.

# Ranchi Pitch for 4th Test # Ben Stokes # Ollie Pope