“I’d love one,” Webster said. “Sometimes a 40 or 60 is as good as 100 in some innings where it’s a low-scoring affair.
“I’m expecting it to be fast and bouncy and offer a little bit for the seamers with the new ball. I’m pretty confident our team can play in any conditions. We’ve shown over the last 12 months that we can win from any conditions, in any country, really.”
Beau Webster with Pat Cummins at Optus Stadium on Monday.Credit: Getty Images
Last summer in Perth, Australia bowled India out for 150 on day one but were left reeling at 7-67 by stumps. The average first-innings Test score at Optus Stadium is 395.
England’s batsmen have flourished on flatter decks in recent years, while Australia’s bowlers have gently urged curators to keep some life in the pitches this summer.
“Something in it for the quicks, something in it for the batters,” curator Isaac McDonald told The West Australian in an interview last week. “Good batters scored good runs and the quicks were in the game in the last few Tests here.
“[We’re] aiming for that really good balance between bat and ball but the characteristics of pace and bounce have got to be there and we’ll see what happens on day one.”
Former Test captain Greg Chappell wrote in his column for this masthead last week Australia should prepare for a Perth surface that “boasts a reputation built on sheer pace and bounce”.
“The strip here is pure energy, where the ball flies with a velocity unmatched anywhere else,” Chappell wrote.
Australia trained for the first time on Monday afternoon after arriving on Sunday, while England’s players were given the day off after completing their practice match last week.
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Injured skipper Pat Cummins bowled in the Optus Stadium nets to Labuschagne ahead of the latter’s expected return to No.3, while Australian quick Scott Boland said potential debutant Jake Weatherald would relish a good batting wicket.
“I’ve played against him for probably the best part of eight years and he’s someone who’s always been an opening batter who can take the game away from you in pretty quick time,” Boland said. “I know it’ll be exciting if he plays on Friday.”
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