Last Updated on 2 weeks by Charbel Coorey
The highly anticipated Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) is on our doorstep, with the Perth pitch in the spotlight. If the pitch emulates the one last year against Pakistan, the batsmen will be in for a tough time.
And that is on the menu. Isaac McDonald, Western Australia (WA) Cricket Head Curator, said the pitch will have pace and bounce, as seen already this season in the Australia-Pakistan ODI.
“This is Australia, this is Perth,” said McDonald to ESPNcricinfo earlier this month. “I’m setting ourselves up for really good pace, really good bounce and really good carry.”
Optus Stadium Perth Pitch Report: Rain in the leadup to the Test adds another complexion
Australia racked up 487 in the first innings against Pakistan last year, with David Warner smashing 164. But, batting became trickier has the match went on. Cracks opened up, resulting in Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja copping blows.
Pakistan were then bowled out for 89 in the fourth innings as Australia sealed a big 360-run win.
ALSO READ: Optus Stadium Perth records & pace vs. spin comparison
Although conditions have been cooler in Perth this spring, warm conditions are forecast for the first Test of the 2024/25 BGT series. Sunny weather is expected on Friday (day one) through to Sunday (day three), with temperatures around 30 degrees on days two and three. However, it is unlikely that cracks will open up too much as the Test goes on given there has been some rain in the lead up to the match.
“I don’t think this weather is going to make this pitch fall apart,” said WA Cricket head curator Isaac McDonald. “There’ll be some deterioration. Grass will stand up during the game and offer that variable bounce. But in terms of big-snake WACA cracks, unfortunately, I don’t think the weather’s going to get us there.”
Australia have won all four Tests at Optus Stadium, including the first against India in 2018-19. That was on a spicy wicket, where Virat Kohli’s superb hundred was trumped by Australia’s team effort and Nathan Lyon’s eight wickets.
In fact, Lyon is a player to keep an eye on even with pace expected to dominate. The offspinner loves bowling on this ground thanks to the bounce on offer, with 27 wickets at an average of 18.00. This is far lower than spinners’ total average on this ground (33.18), with pace faring better (29.71).
ALSO READ: “Australia will clean India up in 4 days”
Toss could prove crucial
Australia batted first in all four Tests and won each match by a handsome margin (146, 296, 164, and 360 runs). The average first innings score is 456, and such a score here would surely be a winning one.
However, both batting lineups are on shaky ground. The Optus Stadium surface looks to have more in it for the bowlers, especially now given the pitch has spent more time under covers in recent days. “At the moment, we’re leaning towards rolling it a bit more on top to get that firmness, and that happy medium between bat and ball. [It] would be nice if the sun pops out, but we’re really comfortable as a curating team,” McDonald said.
Both Australia and India have the pace arsenal to take advantage. Which batting lineup blinks first will make for fascinating viewing. Eyes will be on debutant Nathan McSweeney as well as Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, both of whom are seeking a return to their best.
For India, they are coming off a humbling 3-0 loss at home to New Zealand, where they were exposed by bounce in Bengaluru. Also, the batters had a challenging time of things in their intra-squad match simulation at the WACA, and there is no Cheteshwar Pujara this time around to hold things together.
Who will that player be? Time will tell.
