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PCA Stadium, Mohali (First Test)Motera - 2nd Test | Bangalore - 3rd Test Barely eight kms from the city centre in Chandigarh, the Mohali-based PCA Stadium is the most modern of the Indian stadiums with a capacity of about 40,000. It can be the perfect settings for cricket: with an excellent wicket and outfield and first class facilities. In fact, the PCA Stadium in the first week of December can be more English than Indian winter just setting in, seamer-friendly weather and a 'green' and hard wicket: the first Test will be England's best chance in the series. Cricket buffs haven't yet forgotten a misty December morning in '94 when, in the first-ever Test on this ground, the West Indian pace bowlers Courtney Walsh and Kenny Benjamin terrorised the Indian batting - and dressing room - to fashion an incredible win for the guests. Since then, the grass on the wicket may have become scarcer, and it may have been playing relatively slower, but the morning sessions have always belonged to seamers. The last Test played here, in October 1999 between India and New Zealand saw India being shot out for 82 on a damp first morning. The next morning saw a Kiwi collapse but the wicket got better and better and once the moisture eased out on it, high scores were the order of the match. England have been to Chandigarh twice (ODIs, in January 1985 which England won and January 1993 when India got revenge) but the games were held at the Sector 16 Stadium. Chandigarh city can accommodate up to 3-4,000 guests. Mohandas Menon provides some statistical information on those matches.
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