‘Lyon will enjoy bowling with the bounce in Perth’
PERTH: Australia opener Aaron Finch expects the second Test to turn into a battle of attrition with off-spinner Nathan Lyon playing an important role due to the bounce on a Perth pitch seen tailor-made for fast bowlers.
“It’s going to be one of those games that’ll be a real grind for both sides. The position we’re in we would have taken at the start of the day, no doubt, especially winning the toss and batting,” Finch said after the end of play.
“I think Nathan Lyon will enjoy bowling with the amount of bounce on this track, no doubt he will be excited to bowl here,” he said.
BATTING UNCERTAINTY
Finch said batsmen can become indecisive sometimes playing on this wicket. “When the ball starts seaming off good parts of the wicket and quite dramatically at times, that’s when you know you need to tighten up,” he said.
“But you have to also be in a position to cash in on some balls that you can hit, otherwise you get stuck in two minds and end up letting the wicket get you out.
“So you have to be really proactive and take that out of play as much as you can,” he added, on how he and Harris batted on this wicket.”
India struck back with three wickets each in the second and third sessions, but Australia seemed to enjoy slight advantage after being 277-6 at stumps. Asked about making the Indian bowlers work hard, Finch said, “Our plan was to bat on this wicket regardless of what happened in Adelaide, the heat and getting miles into their legs.
“That was our plan to bat first anyway and take that challenges head on. No doubt it might play a factor later in this game, or third or fourth Test, but it was always our plan to bat (after winning the toss).”
Talking about his partner young Harris, who scored his maiden Test half-century at his home ground, Finch said, “I think what everyone’s seen from him so far, not a lot fazes him. He’s a pretty chilled out character who just goes with the flow and that’s the way he’s always been.
“He’s a great guy, but I think the tightness of his technique - he covers his off stump, looks to hit down the ground and for such a short guy that can be quite unique at times.
“He’s definitely got all the shots, but I think the way he adapts his game and his game plan depending on the wicket, depending on the attack, I think that’ll hold him in great stead.”