Curators hint at a bouncy WACA wicket for the third Test between India and Australia - Cricket News Update
Wicket curators at the WACA Ground in Perth have promised a bouncy track for the third Test of the ongoing four-match series between India and Australia starting on Friday, January 13, 2012.
The WACA curator, Cameron Sutherland, told media reporters on Monday that the wicket they are preparing for the third Test will be a traditional WACA wicket offering ample pace and bounce. He hoped the track would
behave similar to the one used for the mouthwatering Ashes clash between Australia and England last season, which the hosts won in four days by fielding a four-prong pace attack. Sutherland feels that sticking to the four-prong pace attack strategy would not
be a wrong decision on the hosts' part.
"We are hoping it will certainly be like last year," said Cameron on Monday eve. "It [playing four pacers] won't be the wrong decision if the preparation goes as it is expected to," he believed.
The Pattinson led Australian attack has performed exceptionally well so far in the series. On the other hand, Indian bowlers, especially the spinners, were seen struggling on the bouncy Melbourne and Sydney tracks and with
another bouncy track awaiting them at Perth, one can expect little chances of an Indian fight back.
The curator revealed that they have not yet started preparing the wicket properly; however, he did say that it would start on Tuesday morning.
"It is pretty hard underneath," revealed Sutherland. "We have already done a lot of work just getting the grass where we want, coverage-wise. The actual rolling starts tomorrow," he added further.
Michael Hussey, a senior middle order batsman of Australia who hails from Western Australia, said they have the experience of playing in bouncy WACA conditions while it would be quite different for the Indians. However, he
warned his side against complacency saying that the tourists have got some prolific experienced players in their camp who have been performing very well in Australian conditions and have the ability to bounce back any time.
India is currently trailing Australia 0-2 in the four-match series with the third Test starting at Perth this Friday.