NEW DELHI: As expected, the venue for the third India vs Australia Test has been changed. The original schedule had Dharamsala as the designated venue, but due to the outfield not being of Test match quality, the BCCI has decided to shift the Test to Indore.
"The third Test of the Mastercard Australia tour of India for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, originally scheduled to take place at the HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala from 1st to 5th March has now been moved to Holkar Stadium, Indore.
Owing to harsh winter conditions in the region, the outfield lacks sufficient grass density and will need some time to develop fully." - The BCCI confirmed in a press release on Monday.
That the match will be shifted was confirmed on Sunday itself after BCCI curator Taposh Chatterjee's report deemed the re-laid outfield as unfit for an international match.
The inclement weather added to the woes of Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA) as the local ground staff didn't get enough time to grow a good layer of grass on the patches of bald outfield.
India won the first Test in Nagpur in convincing style by an innings and 132 runs, crushing the visitors who were shot out for just 91 in their second innings to take a 1-0 lead in the 4 Test series.
The second Test will be played in Delhi from February 17th onwards.
(With inputs from PTI)
