T20 wickets should be absolute batting belters, where 400+ match scores are par.
I expect a pathetic sluggish & dead slow wicket in PSL - before KO matches starts, in later stages of preliminary games, some matches will struggle to post 300in total. It's not easy to make batting belters which gives fair chance to both side batting first or second. Because -
- It needs solid base so that the bounce is consistent (& in higher side);
- it needs high % of clay so that the top surface doesn't crumble & spinners starts to dominate;
- it needs deep rooted live grass (brown'll make it batting belter, green will bring the bowlers - but key is live grass with deep root) so that the pace of the track remains similar - it'll slow down a bit in later stages, but that should be normalized with dew in D/N matches;
- it needs the soil to contain lots of moisture, so that the wicket doesn't get dry too early & make it a dead slow clay court type surface where darters like Imad are king.
- an ideal batting belter should see players timing the ball for six, rather than butchering it with bottom hand. On a perfect batting track - good length balls should never be played with bottom hand, rather it should be timed & placed with top hand, which more or less every Indian LO wicket is.
None of these are there in UAE track, neither these are a quick fix. It takes 1/2 years for a newly laid pitch to settle in to a perfect wicket - therefore, I am not sure why we are expecting batting belters in PSL? They'll do it in an easier way - pull the rope 10 metres in so that top edges can go for SIX & we'll be happy for 200+ targets ......
