Fresh turf but challenge for India remains same
NEWDELHI: For a long time, a trip to Perth’s WACA ground --- the Fremantle Doctor blowing in the afternoon helps fast bowlers swing as well --- was deemed detrimental to the health of batsmen. India however have landed in Perth for the second Test with no baggage. They won here in 2008 with an all-round performance.
Over the years, many cricketers past and present, have criticised the waning pace of the WACA pitch. Former Aussie batsman Dean Jones dubbed it “dribble dead crap” last year.
The venue though has shifted across the Swan river to the new Optus Stadium. It has tried to replicate some of the charm WACA had, the scoreboard for instance. But will it be a throwback to when Perth was a haven for pacers?
The second Test starts on Friday, and some numbers indicate it won’t be easy for batsmen. In the only two ODIs (against England and South Africa) hosted at the new stadium since it opened this year, 24 of 31 wickets to fall to bowlers were taken by pacers. We are talking different formats here but it is safe to assume that while India batsmen have often showed they are no dummies on bouncy pitches, they have been derailed by seam movement, the England tour providing the most recent example.
If the pitch seams, both India and Australia pacers will benefit. The Adelaide Test showed how vital Ishant Sharma was with exaggerated movement. CricViz has an interesting data comparison that shows Australia are barely ahead of India when the Test average of the top six are taken. However, the more telling statistic for India is the number of dismissals compared to Australia, almost four times more.
Australia will look to exploit this to level the four-Test series after India won at Adelaide by 31 runs.
“I’m really fascinated and can’t wait to see what the wicket brings,” Australia coach Justin Langer was quoted as saying after the Adelaide loss. “There’s only been one four-day game in its history. I went and watched a bit of the New South Wales versus Western Australia game -- there
was certainly some pace and bounce there. We’ve also seen some pace and bounce in it during the one-dayers and T20 game.”
India look battle ready though. Cheteshwar Pujara was patient in both the innings at Adelaide while the useful innings of KL Rahul and Ajinkya Rahane against a pumped up Australian pace bowling in the second innings may have laid to rest some doubts. Perth is a different
surface, but India’s confidence is at an all-time high.
“We know the Perth track is quick, it’s a drop-in surface, there will be something there for the fast bowlers,” said India coach Ravi Shastri after the Adelaide Test. Given they have seized the momentum early in the series, the onus is on India to defy the odds again and build on the advantage, this time at an unknown Perth venue.