PCB hires ex-MCG curator ahead of third Australia Test in Lahore

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has hired former MCG and ICC academy curator Toby Lumsden for assistance in making the pitch for the third Test at Lahore's Gaddafi Stadium between Pakistan and Australia.

Toby Lumsden has been associated with ICC academy for over a decade, and his experience will help the local curators of Pakistan to understand the modern requirements for preparing pitches.

Lumsden landed in Lahore earlier in the week to begin work. He began at the ICC Academy in 2010 and held the job for two years before rejoining in 2017 as head curator.

PCB Chairman Ramiz Raja shared his vision earlier to overhaul the process of pitch preparation and introduce readymade drop-in pitches from Australia in Pakistan in the coming seasons.

The Australian team has toured Pakistan after 24 years, and the first Test of the historic series ended in a draw. ICC rated the Rawalpindi surface “below average” and sanctioned one demerit point to the venue.

Rawalpindi's track produced over 1100 runs in five days of play and only 14 wickets fell, where Pakistan declared at 476 runs for the loss of four wickets in the first innings and added 252 for 0 in the second innings, whereas the visitors were bowled out for 459.

The ongoing Test in Karachi was expected to support the bowlers but has behaved unlikely to its original nature as Australia batted for over six sessions in the first innings to put up 556. In response, Pakistan was bundled out for 148 in 53 overs, leaving Australia in a commanding position.

The last day of the Karachi Test is underway, with all three results possible. Pakistan, while chasing 506, started the day at 192/2. Babar Azam and Abdullah Shafique fought back with a 228-run stand for the third wicket before Smith finally caught one in the slip, and Shafique missed out his century by four runs.

Australia required eight wickets at the start of the day, whereas Pakistan had 90 overs to score 314 runs or bat out to save the Test. Although Karachi's surface has been much better than the Pindi wicket, the services of Toby Lumsden will be helpful to further improve the pitch for the Lahore Test.

Lumsden landed in Lahore earlier in the week to begin work. He began at the ICC Academy in 2010 and held the job for two years before rejoining in 2017 as head curator.