Images have emerged of the pitch in the first Ashes Test in Perth with the curators appearing to have taken advice from the likes of Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc to make it difficult for the visitors. Only last week, Starc implored the Australian curators to provide challenging wickets this summer of cricket in the Ashes to help the host bowlers topple a solid English batting line-up.
England have thrived at home in recent years playing their aggressive style of ‘BazBall’ on flatter wickets that allow them to attack the ball. But there have been few flat wickets in recent years in Australia with pitches proving difficult for batters.
Images have emerged of the pitch in the first Ashes Test in Perth with the curators having taken advice from the likes of Steve Smith and Mitchell Starc to make it difficult for the visitors. (Images: @NHoultCricket/Getty Images)
Starc called for curators to make them lively, which he believes would give the Aussie bowlers an advantage. “I hope the groundsmen stick to their guns and prepare the wickets they want,” he said during his Sheffield Shield appearance last week.
“If we’re worried about five days of revenue, then there’s bigger problems at hand.” And images emerged on Monday afternoon of the pitch in Perth looking green.
The grounds staff were giving the pitch some water on a warm Perth day, but it appears the curators having listened to Smith and Starc in a bid to give the Aussies an advantage. While there is no doubt the Perth pitch still looks like it will offer bounce, the hint of green a few days out could suggest a bowler-friendly wicket. Last summer, the Australian quicks and Jasprit Bumrah dominated the five Test series .
Scott Boland dominated the MCG and SCG in the series and it raised questions on whether Nathan Lyon could find himself left out of the XI if the conditions favour fast-bowling. Regardless, Aussie cricket fans took notice of the images, which could give the hosts a big advantage against the visitors if it offers movement and bounce.
Australia tossing up Ashes XI
Australia are tossing up whether to select Brendan Doggett for the first Test in Perth after the hosts will miss a number of frontline quicks. Pat Cummins was seen bowling in the nets ahead of the Perth clash, despite being ruled out.
The Aussie captain is making his way back to fitness and could be ready for a return in the second Test. But his absence, along with Josh Hazlewood after a hamstring injury, has seen the selectors ponder a big change.
Cameron Green and Beau Webster could both play as allrounders in the XI, or Sheffield Shield star Doggett could be rewarded for his domestic form and play as the other frontline quick. And Aussie great Jason Gillespie has backed the 31-year-old to come straight in and do the job.
“He’s one of the quicker bowlers in Australia,” Gillespie told ABC Radio. “Got a good motor, he’s a greyhound and is as fit as a fiddle. “He’s ready to go. England will sniff an opportunity (without Cummins and Hazlewood), but I’m confident the Australian seam attack is good enough to get the job done.”
Doggett could become just the third Indigenous man to represent Australia – after Boland and Gilllespie – in almost 150 years of Test cricket. Australia will be hoping Cummins continues his recovery in the nets having impressed on Monday evening.
Brendan Doggett (pictured left) could make his Test debut for Australia in the Ashes.
Will Nathan Lyon play the first Test?
One question Australia need to answer is if Lyon will play in Perth if it the pitch favours the quicks. Lyon has been a mainstay in the Aussie red-ball team having taken 553 wickets throughout his Test career. However, Lyon was sensationally dropped for the third and final Test against the West Indies earlier this year. This was to bring in Boland who ended up destroying the West Indies batting line-up.
The spinner did find himself on the periphery in the previous home series against India, where he featured sparingly with the ball and only managed nine wickets across the five Tests. And Starc’s suggestion similar pitches should be used as last summer could work against Lyon.