Perth Stadium, the venue for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy opener next month, staged its first Test in December 2018, against Virat Kohli-led India. Australia won that game by 146 runs.
Australia have since won three more Tests there, reflecting how well they have mastered the conditions at the Perth Stadium. Three weeks from now, the task may not be as easy for Pat Cummins and his men though, as they take on Team India once more, from November 22.
India might have been beaten at home by New Zealand but Rohit Sharma and Co. are still a quality side on paper and one of the strongest to tour Australia.
A lot will depend on the nature of the Perth Stadium surface, where the team batting first (Australia in this case) has won all four Tests so far.
The drop-in wicket at the stadium has been installed earlier this month.
Usually, drop-in pitches tend to be on the flatter side with some even becoming unresponsive as the game progresses. But the one in Perth will have pace, bounce and also good carry, emphasised Western Australia Cricket Association (Waca) and Perth Stadium head curator Isaac McDonald.
There will be assistance for spinners too.
“The soil that has been used to prepare this pitch is one of the richest in terms of
quality in Australia. So, that way, it averts risks of the
surface being flatter. Besides, 75 to 80 per cent of it is clay.
“To sum up, it’s fair enough to say that the surface will have pace, bounce and good carry from the onset and will remain a sporting track right through the Test match with something in it for everyone,” McDonald told The Telegraph from Perth.
The clay factor does bring spinners into play, making them even more effective on the last two days of the Test.
“Spinners do get purchase here. If you go back to the last time Australia and India played a Test here, Nathan Lyon was quite effective in the first innings itself.
“So, given the kind of surface, spinners too may get some assistance right from Day I,” McDonald said.
Lyon took eight wickets in the December 2018 Test, including 5/67 in the first innings. The stadium did
not host a Test on India’s 2020-21 tour.
As for the toss, is it advisable to bat first? “... Past results here suggest that the team batting first has gone on to win,” McDonald said.
