Add Category
Ben Stokes is set to miss Tuesday's match against Bangladesh but England captain Jos Buttler is more concerned with the outfield in Dharamsala, which he thinks is not ideal for World Cup matches.
- England play Bangladesh in Dharamsala in their second Cricket World Cup match
- England captain Jos Buttler is concerned about the outfield
- Australia will play New Zealand at the same venue later in the tournament
Former England batter and Afghanistan head coach Jonathan Trott questioned the condition of the outfield after spinner Mujeeb ur Rahman narrowly escaped injury after jamming his knee into the sandy surface.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has given the outfield an "average" rating, allowing it to host World Cup matches, but concerns about players' safety while fielding lingers.
"It's poor in my own opinion," Buttler told reporters on Monday ahead of the match against Bangladesh.
"Any time you're talking about being careful diving or sort of being careful when you're fielding, it goes against everything you want to be as a team.
"So that's obviously not ideal, the way the surface is, the outfield. But we won't use it as an excuse, we'll adapt to it."
This is not the first time the outfield in the northern city of Dharamsala has caused concern. The ground was set to host the third Test between Australia and India earlier this year but was stripped of hosting rights due to the condition of the outfield.
"Owing to harsh winter conditions in the region, the outfield lacks sufficient grass density and will need some time to develop fully," the BCCI said in a statement in February when it announced the match would be moved to Indore, where Australia won inside three days on a heavily criticised pitch.
Although being cleared for World Cup matches, it appears the intervening months have done little to improve conditions.
Defending champions England are hoping to bounce back from their nine-wicket thrashing by New Zealand in Thursday's tournament opener in Ahmedabad.
An unsafe outfield adds to the problems of a side fretting on the fitness of Stokes who missed the first match with a minor hip issue.
"You want to put your body on the line and be trying to save every single run or have confidence in the field. So, it's not as good as it could be or should be, but it's going to be the same for both teams, and the wicket looks fantastic," Buttler said.
Buttler later told the BBC that the poor outfield raises questions of the integrity of the game.
"The only thing I would question is if you are telling players not to dive and stuff, does that question the integrity of the game really, because that is what you want to be able to do.
"Worse-case scenario is something bad happens but fingers crossed that doesn't happen for both teams."
Bangladesh spin bowling coach Rangana Herath said they were happy with the outfield on which they beat Afghanistan on Saturday and would not instruct their players to avoid sliding.
"No, we are not going to restrict anything because if you ask someone to restrict something, in that case they don't give their 100 per cent," the former Sri Lanka spinner said.
"We are asking them to give their best in the outfield as well."
While Bangladesh are upbeat having beaten Afghanistan in their opener, Buttler has been candid about the horror start to England's title defence.
"We know we didn't play as well as we can in the last game and you're always desperate to put that right, both individually and as a team," the England captain said.
"So, there's plenty of hunger in the group and we're excited to get back on the field."
England's October 15 contest against Afghanistan in New Delhi looks a more realistic target for Stokes to return to action.
"It's good to see him back in the nets and building back towards full fitness but probably unlikely for tomorrow," Buttler said.
Australia is set to play just one match in Dharamsala, against unbeaten New Zealand on October 28.
The Kiwis earned their second win of the tournament no Monday with a comprehensive 99-run victory over The Netherlands in Hyderabad.
You can listen to live commentary of all Australia's Cricket World Cup matches via ABC Radio or the ABC Listen App.
Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Friday.
Reuters/ABC