Struggling Indian batsmen are in for a tough challenge during the Perth Test as the WACA pitch is expected to be significantly quicker this time around.
“We hope to have at least extra 20 per cent of pace and bounce (from the pitch of 2007—08). We are aiming for a similar pitch as last year which has more pace and bounce,” said curator Cameron Sutherland to mediapersons this morning.
Interestingly, when the Indians played at WACA last time in 2007—08, they had won the match.
The pitch at WACA has mythical legends around its pace and bounce and the stuff of Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson is the stuff of legends in cricket annals.
The curator promises it to be the return to those times of 70s and 80s when exceptional pace and bounce was witnessed on this surface.
“We have changed our soil type. We have tried to bring the traditional WACA characteristic of pre 1980s days. It has taken us a fair while to achieve it. We have changed the grass type, redeveloped the whole block. We are pretty close to mark now,” said Sutherland.
The curator said there are significant differences from the earlier pitches of, say 2000 era.
