BCCI has picked two fantastic places in Eastern India, Kolkata’s Eden Gardens and Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium, for the two-match ‘Freedom Series’ between India and South Africa. The Indian cricket board has chosen two such places that symbolize two extremes, one being the historical legacy and the other the modern facilities.
Eden Gardens: Indian cricket’s unmatched legacy and history
Eden Gardens is among the most sacred Test grounds in the world. This stadium, which is well known for its rich heritage, lively environment, and enthusiastic fans, is usually included in the list of revered places like Lord’s and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The ground was set up in the year 1864, which was thirteen years before the first-ever Test match played at MCG. It began organizing matches in the first half of the twentieth century and had its first experience of Test cricket in 1934 when the MCC team, with Douglas Jardine as captain, played their second Test match during their first tour of India.
Since the Bombay Gymkhana, the place of the first Test in India, never hosted another Test match, the Eden Gardens has become the oldest active Test venue in India.
Eden Gardens has, over the years, staged 42 Test matches, the greatest number of men’s Test matches in the country. It has been the venue for some of the most unforgettable matches, including the legendary 2001 Test match against Australia led by Steve Waugh. The ground continued its legacy in 2019 when it became India’s first venue to host a Day-Night Test match.
To be precise, Eden, after a six-year gap since the Pink Ball Test, will be the venue for a Test match again. Eden Gardens, having a seating capacity of 68,000, is now the second-largest cricket ground in the country, next to the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, first.
The connection of South Africa with Eden Gardens.
Eden Gardens also has a notable past with South Africa. In 1991, when the country was allowed to resume international cricket after a long break due to Apartheid, Eden Gardens was the ground for their first ODI. They came back for another unforgettable match two years later, the Hero Cup semifinal, where they lost to India but not before a magical innings by Sachin Tendulkar.
Moreover, South Africa also claimed their very first Test win at Eden Gardens in 1996. The Proteas usually have a good experience of the true character of the Eden pitch. They will be hoping for a similar one this time – a balanced wicket with some help for both batters and bowlers and possibly some spin starting from day three.
Barsapara Cricket Stadium: India’s newest cricket ground
Barsapara Cricket Stadium is the second international venue in Assam. The first, Nehru Stadium in Guwahati, hosted 14 men’s ODIs from 1983 to 2010, and several Women’s ODIs organized at the same time.
Beginning with the year 2012, the Barsapara Cricket Stadium got its official name as Dr. Bhupen Hazarika Cricket Stadium. It is now the official cricket venue for the Assam Cricket Association. However, even though the state of Assam has no IPL team, it has been a regular venue for the Indian Premier League for the last few years. Rajasthan Royals have been choosing to play a few of their home matches each season at this state-of-the-art stadium that can accommodate almost fifty thousand people.
What to expect from the latest Test venue in India?
The venue has so far hosted two ODIs and four T20Is and is now getting ready for its first Test match ever. Nepal is located in the northeast of India and can be an interesting factor for both teams in terms of challenges. To begin with, the match will have a different timing.
It will start at 9:00 AM, thirty minutes earlier than the usual starting time of other Indian venues, to take maximum advantage of the daylight. The teams will have a short 20-minute break at 11:00 AM and a full lunch break at 1:20 PM, which is different from other venues.
The early start will provide the pacers with more favorable conditions. With both sides having bowlers like Jasprit Bumrah and Kagiso Rabada, it is going to be tough for the batters. This is why the toss will have a very important part in the match outcome.
Eden Gardens is the second venue for Test matches in India and Barsapara Cricket Stadium is going to be the 30th. In a span of the next two weeks, both places will be providing interesting cricket through two Test matches. Eden Gardens, which is known for its historic charm, is ready to welcome cricket lovers from around the world, while Barsapara Cricket Stadium is set to bewitch the younger generation of cricket fans with its innovations.
