How to read a cricket wicket in 90 seconds

The five things to look at

The five things are: the grass cover, the footmarks, the cracks, the colour and the moisture. Look at each in turn. The five things together give you a read of what the wicket will do in the first innings, what it will do in the second innings, and what the captaincy decision at the toss should be.

The grass cover

The grass cover is the most important indicator. A thick grass cover holds the pitch together for longer. A thin grass cover means the pitch will deteriorate faster, which favours spin in the second innings. A thick grass cover favours seam in the first innings and is harder for spin in the second.

A dry grass cover is also a sign of dryness underneath. A green grass cover is a sign of moisture underneath. The dryness and moisture are the second-level indicators.

The footmarks

The footmarks are where the fast bowlers have landed in their run-up. The footmarks on a length are the places where the pitch will rough up first. The roughs are the places where the spinners will get turn in the second innings.

Look for footmarks at both ends. The captain’s choice at the toss depends on which end has more footmarks. The captain will want to bat first on the end with more footmarks, so the second innings is on the end with fewer footmarks.

The cracks

The cracks are the lines that open up on a dry pitch as it dries. The cracks are the places where the ball will misbehave in the second innings — jumping unexpectedly, turning sharply, or keeping low.

Look for cracks in the middle of the pitch, not at the ends. The middle is where the ball lands most often. The cracks in the middle are the cracks that affect the most deliveries.

The colour

The colour tells you about the dryness. A brown pitch is a dry pitch. A green pitch is a pitch with moisture. A grey pitch is a pitch with a lot of moisture. The colour is the simplest indicator.

A brown pitch favours spin. A green pitch favours seam. A grey pitch favours seam in the first innings and spin in the second innings, as the moisture dries out under the sun.

The moisture

The moisture is the most subtle indicator. The moisture is in the top layer of the pitch. The moisture affects how the ball grips the surface. A moist surface gives the seamers more lateral movement. A dry surface gives the spinners more turn.

The moisture dries out under the sun. A pitch that looks moist at the toss may be dry by the 20th over of the first innings. The moisture indicator is the indicator that changes fastest.

Putting it together

A green, moist pitch with thick grass cover and footmarks at both ends is a seam-bowler’s pitch. Bat first, score 250+, and use the seamers in the first innings before the pitch dries out.

A brown, dry pitch with cracks in the middle and few footmarks is a spin-bowler’s pitch. Bat first, score 300+, and use the spinners in the second innings when the cracks open up.

A grey pitch with thin grass cover and footmarks at one end is a pitch that will change. Bat first, score 280+, and be ready to change the bowling attack as the pitch dries out under the sun.