Last Updated on 10 months by Charbel Coorey

Cricket News: Perth Stadium pitch report for 2023 AUS vs PAK Test | A look at the pitch ahead of the 1st Test between Australia & Pakistan

The Perth Stadium pitch will “push the limits of grass coverage” for the upcoming first Test between Australia and Pakistan. That is according to curator Isaac McDonald, who is after a better balance between bat and ball after last year’s pitch for the Australia-West Indies Test was quite flat.

The surface is set to have extra mositure given there are five consecutive days of 30-plus degrees heat in Perth in the leadup to the Test. This will likely enable early movement, but the surface should harden up further and aid more bounce.

Curator McDonald said that the moisture will ensure the pitch doesn’t deteriorate too quickly. “That’s everyone’s aim,” he said. “You’ve got to have in the back of your mind that it will last the whole game.”

Perth Stadium pitch report for AUS vs PAK Test: Spin to come into the game?

Warm and mostly sunny conditions are forecast for the entire Test, with temperatures around the 30-degree mark each day. While these conditions may not be enough to produce cracks in the surface, the sunny weather, plus 20-30km/h winds each day, is likely to dry the pitch out quite quickly as the game goes on.

“These wickets are a bit different – they’re in a tray and with the compaction are so much more squeezed in,” said McDonald. “The grass and healthy grass on top doesn’t aid it to crack massively.”

The fast bowlers should find asssistance – especially with the new ball – but that doesn’t mean the spinners won’t have a say. Nathan Lyon thrives in conditions such as those at the Gabba and Perth Stadium due to the bounce on offer. Also, with the possibility of quite a dry track by days three, four and five, the offspinner could be a central figure as Australia aim to go 1-0 up in the series.

In fact, Lyon has 22 wickets – the most of any bowler – in just three Tests at Optus Stadium at an average of 18.45. Last year, he took 6/128 in the fourth innings to help bowl West Indies out for 338 on what turned out to be an excellent batting pitch.

Mitchell Starc has the next-most with 18 at an average of 18.77. Among Australians, Pat Cummins (9 wickets, avg. 21.77) and Josh Hazlewood (7 wickets, avg. 27.85) also have solid numbers.

With the bat, Marnus Labuschagne has an incredible three centuries and half-century in four innings on the ground, totaling 501 runs. Steve Smith has the next-most runs with 279 in two Tests, bumped up by his classy 200* against West Indies last year.

The first Test against Pakistan begins on December 14.