An image of the Perth pitch for the first Test between Australia and India for the impending Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 has been going rounds on social media. Notably, the hosts have prepared a green wicket and are watering it well before the opening game. The surface at Optus Stadium in Perth has traditionally helped the seamers and the trend is likely to continue, as the viral picture suggests.
Notably, India have a 100 per cent track record at Optus and that should give the players some confidence. The batting unit has failed to live up to the expectations in recent times and that’s a concern, but the visitors have had a few good practice sessions at WACA Ground nets.
However, KL Rahul and Shubman Gill injured themselves during match simulations and out of which, the latter is reported to be ruled out of the upcoming Test. Captain Rohit Sharma is expected to miss as well, given the birth of his second child earlier in the week. Both sets of bowling units, meanwhile, will enjoy having a go at the batters in Perth, given the assistance expected to be on offer.
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The trio of Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood would be hoping to put up a good show, while the onus heavily lies on Jasprit Bumrah in the Indian camp. Mohammed Siraj will partner him, but the pacer isn’t in very good form. Meanwhile, either Prasidh Krishna or Harshit Rana is expected to be the third pacer for India.
🚨 1st look at Perth Pitch
Pitch for Perth Test is looking greeny & juicy, gonna help pace bowlers alot. And to make things worse for batters, there will be overcast conditions through out the game. I can see India getting all out under 50.
P.S – Poor BCCI can only dream of… pic.twitter.com/KfpNyivpcj
— Rajiv (@Rajiv1841) November 18, 2024
Given the conditions, the visitors are also considering playing an extra seamer in Nitish Kumar Reddy. In that case, the all-rounder will be batting at eight, replacing either Ravichandran Ashwin or Ravindra Jadeja. Reddy has played 23 first class games so far in his career, scoring 779 runs and picking up 56 wickets.
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The focus however will remain on India’s batting unit that haven’t fared well in the last home series against New Zealand. The surface in Perth won’t be kind either, and their performance with the bat will decide the fate of the game.
