In order to keep the ongoing four-match Test series against India alive, Australia has to win the second Test in Perth which will be commencing at the new Optus Stadium on Friday as they lost the first Test in Adelaide. The second Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium, starting December 14, Friday.
Optus Stadium will make its Test debut, and while the Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) cricket stadium across the Swan River was known for its assistance to pacers, the new stadium and the nature of the surface too has people talking. According to curator Brett Sipthorpe, he has been told make the track fast and bouncy.
As per the quotes in cricket.com.au., Sipthorpe said, “We’ve just been told to make it fast, make it bouncy if you can and run with it. We’re just trying to produce the bounciest pitch we can.”
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Ahead of the inaugural Test, the pitch was tested out for Australia domestic competition, the JLT Sheffield Shield between Western Australia and New South Wales, and fast bowler had dominated the game as they took 32 out of 40 wickets to fall and Nathan Lyon claimed figures of 3/34 and 4/86, enjoyed the bounce on offer – going on to state that he was keen to get back and play a Test there.
Describing the conditions further, Sipthorpe said, “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. We didn’t get any negatives from them, they were all really positive about it. We’re pretty much aiming for the exact same moisture content, and we’re hoping for the exact same pace and bounce.”
But, apart from the pace and bounce, other big factor Sipthorpe says will test the players will be the heat.
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The curator added, “They’ve had all the talk about pace and bounce and movement, but how long can you sustain heavy pressure in 38 degrees? That’s the challenge. If you win the toss do you bowl and make the most of the conditions, or do you think – actually, we’re going to be pretty tired after 50 overs in 38 degrees?”
Two international matches (ODIs) have been played at the venue. The first one between Australia and England in January, which the visitors won by 12 runs after being bowled out for 259 in 47.4 overs. Two pacers – Andrew Tye and Tom Curran – claimed five wickets each in that match. The second was an ODI in November, in which South Africa bowled out Australia for 152 in 38.1 overs and won by six wickets with 124 deliveries remaining.
