Spin to win in Brisbane

Cricket Australia's masterplan to replicate playing conditions from around the globe at local facilities has taken a step forward with the construction of a unique hybrid pitch in Brisbane.

The new pitch is a trial to develop a wicket in Australia that mimics the low, uneven bounce and spin seen in matches on the subcontinent.

If perfected, the technique could potentially be a boon for cricket clubs around the country by allowing for the creation of stable, low-maintenance, low-cost pitches that can be prepared with minimal effort.

Replacing the existing synthetic wicket, the new pitch looks anything but traditional: red, rubberised synthetic grass sits on a buried concrete base, with a blend of soil and clay raked and rolled into it to produce a dark and mottled pitch.

The technique was developed by Tony Hemming from the ICC Global Cricket Academy in Dubai who has used a variety of native cricket soils from around the globe in two years of research.

Installed on Ray Lindwall Oval in a joint venture with Queensland Cricket, the hybrid pitch is the newest addition to the National Cricket Centre and is designed to help both batsmen and bowlers improve their techniques for spin.

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CA's Executive General Manager, Team Performance Pat Howard describes the NCC as a "campus" where players can prepare to play around the world without having to leave Australia.

"We want people to be able to play in all conditions at all times," Howard told cricket.com.au. "We send players to India to the MRF Pace Foundation, and we've sent players to Sri Lanka to work with (consultant spin bowling coach Muthiah) Muralidaran, but we can also get people prepared to play there – part of that is having pitches with different conditions.

"We want this campus to be a great place to learn and practice your skills before you put them into competition."

One of the main challenges in getting a pitch to replicate subcontinent conditions has been to eliminate the bounce.

"The major goal here is the lack of bounce and that's what we're trying to do first," said Howard.

Australia last won a Test series in India in October 2004 and, before that, not since 1969. That lack of success is a motivating factor for coach Darren Lehmann.

"From my point of view, we're playing most of our time in the subcontinent now," Lehmann told cricket.com.au.

"If we can have a pitch here that really mirrors that, that makes it easier to have the guys come up (to the NCC) before a tour, rather than go to the tour earlier, and try and cram it.

"You've got a lot more time to prepare, which will in essence make them better players when they come under those conditions."

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While the hybrid pitch is in operation now, CA is still working towards a plan to construct a more traditional pitch from imported Indian soil, pending approval from the Australian Department of Agriculture.

At the same time, Australian quarries are being scoured to find a local product that matches as closely as possible subcontinent characteristics.

"We have been talking to quarries and doing further testing," Howard told News Ltd.

"We even found out that in Mumbai they have a mixture of clays. It’s very different, as you could imagine, if you go from the bottom of Sri Lanka in Galle all the way up to Mohali.

"We’re not going to have a magic bullet here. I’m happy to keep trying and innovating.

"I’m sure some things won’t go well, but I’m sure over a period of time we can create something that adds to the growth of players against spin."