Toss to play a role in Cuttack one-dayer

Cuttack, Jan 22 (UNI) Toss would again be vital to the fate of the tie between India and the West Indies here at Barabati stadium on Wednesday.

Rahul Dravid, who had captained India the last time they played here against New Zealand, saw the match slip away even after reducing the Kiwis to four for 18 at one stage. It was largely due to the dew factor towards the evening.

He called the pitch ''slow and tricky'' while attending the post-mach press meet in Nagpur.

Pitch Curator Prabir Mukherjee, however, feels that it would be an ideal one-day track.

Mr Mukherjee told UNI, ''It will be a belter of a track in the morning and if the dew factor comes into play in the evening, it could take the pace off the pitch.'' ''So the team that wins the toss should bat first. It will be an advantage,'' he said.

Asked if the ball would get soggy in the evening if the dew factor comes in, Mr Mukherjee said, ''That could be an issue only if the dew is much more.'' OCA Secretary told UNI that if the dew was heavy then the newly acquired super sopper could come into play.

The play will not get affected due to the dew, he assured.

UNI