Home pitches bring great advantage to the local team. But winning is assured only when the strip is prepared to suit the local team’s particular strengths. The curator must be a hard worker who leads ground staff to add winning potential to the home pitch, or winning becomes a far-fetched reality.

Cricketing strategies work in politics, believes Raj Thackeray, the founder of Shiv Sena’s breakaway faction, the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). He is a keen follower of the game and friends with cricket’s who’s who from Mumbai, once Mecca of the game.