India's upcoming Test series against Australia promises to be a fiery affair, with the Optus Stadium pitch in Perth prepared to offer "good bounce and pace." The pitch curator, Isaac McDonald, is aiming to replicate the conditions that proved challenging for Pakistan in December 2022, when the Aussies secured a massive 360-run victory.
McDonald is leaving some grass on the pitch to enhance its spiciness, aiming for a similar starting point to last year's match. The Australian pacers, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, and Mitchell Starc, are expected to exploit the conditions, having grabbed 12 of the 20 Pakistan wickets in that match.
India, however, will enter the Perth Test without any practice match experience, having canceled an intra-squad game. Instead, they will focus on center-wicket training at the nearby WACA stadium, where Australia will also hone their skills.
The Perth pitch has a history of producing thrilling contests. In the 2017-18 Ashes series, England's James Anderson and Stuart Broad wreaked havoc on the Australian batsmen, dismissing them for just 103 in the second innings.
India will need to be wary of the pace and bounce on offer, especially given their recent struggles against fast bowling. However, they will also be buoyed by the return of Jasprit Bumrah, who is expected to lead the bowling attack.
The opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy begins on November 22, and promises to be a captivating battle between two of the world's top cricketing nations.
Tags: #Cricket, #TestCricket, #BorderGavaskarTrophy, #PerthPitch, #India
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