CA builds artificial pitch to rid cricketers of 'sub continental' spin demons

Australia has reportedly built an artificial pitch at the National Cricket Centre in Brisbane that simulates the conditions of the pitches in the South Asian subcontinent to allow Australian batsmen to deal with spin bowling on slow tracks, where they have struggled quite a lot in the past.

The surface mimics the conditions in India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka and has a concrete base with artificial grass, clay and turf rolled into a compact layer on the top, reported Sport 24.

Cricket Australia's high performance manager, Pat Howard, said on Tuesday that the artificial pitch was a step in the right direction and added that the artificial base of the stadium will provide a bounce that will be very different from what one gets in Australia.

He said that it will enable batsmen to practise on a pitch that is very different from the Australian pitch.

Australia's problems with spin bowling are considered to be one of the prime factors behind the crushing 4-0 series defeat suffered by them in India last year.

The players will get a chance to practise on the pitch this week as Australia prepares to leave for a trip to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to face Pakistan in two tests, three one-day matches and a Twenty20 next month.