PREPARING THE BOUNCIEST PITCH WE CAN: WACA CURATOR

PERTH: Brett Sipthorpe, Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) on Thursday unveiled a green top for the maiden Test at the new Optus Stadium, saying ‘he is trying to produce the bounciest wicket he can’ for the second match between India and Australia.

Keeping with tradition at the good old WACA, a raging quick wicket has been laid for this inaugural five-day game. It has a healthy layering of grass which could impact strategies for both sides.

“We’ve just been told make it fast, make it bouncy if you can and run with it. We’re just trying to produce the bounciest pitch we can,” Sipthorpe said on the eve of the second Test.

Sipthorpe is aiming to produce a similar surface to what was used for the Sheffield Shield clash between Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) and New South Wales last month. The domestic game was as a dry-run for this maiden Test. Out of 40 wickets to fall in that four-day game, only eight went to spinners with Nathan Lyon taking seven wickets for 120 runs in two innings and left-arm spinner Ashton Agar picking the one wicket for 69 runs in two innings.

“We’re pretty much planning for exactly what we had for the Shield game. The feedback we got back from the players was terrific. I don’t think I’ve spent so much time talking to players during a game but we just wanted to garner as much feedback as we could from the players,” said Sipthorpe.

WILL BE A GOOD TOSS TO LOSE, SAYS PAINE

“Yeah it will be I reckon (good toss to lose). I spoke to the curator about it. I don’t think the pitch will play that badly. For the ODI and T20 here, both those wickets looked really green for white-ball cricket but it played really well,” said Australia captain Tim Paine.

“With the heat it will probably break up and you will see cracks in the game. It is what it is and whatever you are doing tomorrow morning you need to start really well.” Australia have named an unchanged side for this second Test.

Squad: Aaron Finch, Marcus Harris, Usman Khawaja, Shaun Marsh, Peter Handscomb, Travis Head, Tim Paine (capt), Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.