Former English captain Michael Vaughan feels that the green track at the new Perth Stadium (Optus Stadium) might backfire for the hosts’ Australian cricket team.
The former English captain hugely praised the Indian pacers who were much disciplined with their line and lengths during the first Test of the series at Adelaide that India won by 31 runs. Trailing the series by 0-1, the hosts’ Australia is set to start the second Test of the four-match Test series at Optus Stadium with the green bouncy track. Vaughan feels that it is going to be a big risk for the hosts to produce a green bouncy track in front of a good opponent bowling side.
Recently, Vaughan told Fox Sports, “Certainly, from seeing the Indian attack in England and at the Adelaide Oval, Bumrah (Jasprit), Shami (Mohammad) and Sharma (Ishant) will be going to bed tonight thinking thank you. The actual three quicks of India out bowled the three quicks of Australia. They were outstanding. It’s a big, big risk that Australia are taking.”
Also read: Virat Kohli Feels Excited To Face The Bouncy Perth Track
Speaking about the first Test, the former English captain felt that Indian bowlers were much disciplined for longer periods.
Vaughan added, “They clearly need a pitch that they feel they can get at the Indian batsmen, but I just look to the game at Adelaide Oval, it wasn’t the pitch, it wasn’t anything to do with the conditions. It was just that India produced more discipline for longer periods.”
Though the Australian bowlers also bowled well during the Adelaide Test, the left-arm pacer Mitchell Starc disappointed with his average bowling performances. However, still, he picked up five wickets (2/63 & 3/40) in that entire match.
Talking about Starc’s bowling, Vaughan said, “Unfortunately, for Australia, one of their quicks didn’t quite get the radar right and I would say that went a long way to India just nipping over the line in that Test match.”
Also read: Australia Decides To Go With Unchanged Playing XI For Perth Test
While Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin are unavailable for the second Test due to their respective injuries, the spin-bowling all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja has been included in the 13-member squad for the Perth Test. Vaughan feels excited to see Jadeja in the Perth Test as he believes that Jadeja can make a good difference for the visiting side.
The former English captain said, “Jadeja’s a wonderful cricketer as well. He’s someone that I’d want in the team. He bats well, he’s an incredible fielder, he will create something in the field and with his bowling he’s just going to keep bowling.
Also read: Ashwin and Rohit To Miss Perth Test Due To Injuries
“You look at your three quicks and Ravi Jadeja, as a captain I look at it and you think you’ve got an end tied up against left and right-hand, and if it does start to spin like it did in a Shield match a few weeks ago, he’ll come into his own.”
