02 December,2009 08:32 AM IST | | Sanjjeev K Samyal
It is easy to get carried away by the splendour of Brabourne Stadium's magnificent pavilion and clubhouse. It is one of the most beautiful cricket venues and provides a great setting for India's third Test against Sri Lanka.
The facilities are top-class and by the look of it, the ground appears lush green. But the players better be warned that looks can be deceptive.
They should be careful while fielding at the square boundary on the West side. The entire green carpet cover is not natural grass. There are some brown, bald patches and MiD DAY was witness to the cover-up operation on Monday and yesterday when grass was brought in bags and sprinkled in that area. To make it stick, it was watered and then rolled.
"It is done so that it looks green on TV but once the sun comes out and the surface dries up, it will become loose and come off," said a veteran ground expert when asked for his opinion. As for the risk of injury, the expert said: "Mistaking it tou00a0 be a thick grass cover, the player who goes for the slide will suffer bruises but more risk is involved when the player tries to stop the ball by bending down on the run as he can skid in the process."
