Optus Stadium curator tips fiery wicket for Second Test between Australia and India

[Mosher]

New curator Brett Sipthorpe has warned this week’s debut Optus Stadium Test match may not go the distance, predicting the team winning the toss will send the opposition in on a green and bouncy drop-in pitch.

Sipthorpe is expecting the fast bowlers to gain significant seam, swing and bounce when the venue hosts the second Test between Australia and India beginning on Friday.

The preferred No.3 strip will be used for the clash, which was the original prototype drop-in wicket developed at Gloucester Park and the same pitch used for last summer’s historic one-day international between Australia and England.

The WA Cricket Association’s head curator said he had not felt any commercial pressure to ensure the Test match went for five days and that he was aiming to produce a fast pitch that would recall the WACA Ground’s heyday and genuinely test the batsmen.

 

“I don’t know what’s happened in the past, but I haven’t had any correspondence relating to that (commercial considerations) at all,” Sipthorpe said.

“For us it’s been more about there’s no Gabba in this Test series. So the only other ground that’s got the potential to be that fiery, bouncy pitch is our one. Length of time hasn’t been discussed at all. It’s just try and make it quick, try and make it bouncy.

 

While the largely enclosed stadium’s design appeared to prevent the sea breeze that has played a part in swing bowling at the WACA Ground for generations, Sipthorpe believed Optus Stadium actually had the potential to be a swing bowler’s paradise.

“It swung prodigiously the first two days of the Shield game (between WA and New South Wales). It seems to be something about the venue, it maybe just seems to lock in a bit of humidity or something,” he said.

Sipthorpe, an Australian who spent a decade in charge at Wellington’s Basin Reserve and Westpac Stadium, developed a reputation for producing lively pitches in New Zealand.

He believed the proliferation of Twenty20 cricket meant it was more important than ever that Test match conditions allowed for a genuine battle between bat and ball.

“Particularly in the long form of the game, I love seeing bowlers take it up to the batsmen and have a real battle. Because in Twenty20 now, the bowlers are just on the receiving end of a hiding all the time,” Sipthorpe said.

“I want to see Test cricket. I want to see the bowlers with the upper hand for a change and they can really get into the batsmen. Pace and bounce gives them that weaponry.

“I don’t think anyone wants to see flat five-day cricket. I think people would prefer to see it go for three and a half, four days, but exciting, tough, dour cricket. Rather than bowlers on the receiving end for five days and you end up with a dull draw.

“I’d like to see it go day four, if it stretches into day five that’s great. The main thing is to get a result.”

The only other ground that’s got the potential to be that fiery, bouncy pitch is our one.

 

https://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/cricket/optus-stadium-curator-tips-fiery-wicket-for-second-test-between-australia-and-india-ng-b881044163z

Edited December 10, 2018 by Mosher

[Mosher]

Play with 4 pacers? Bhuvi as the 4th pacer? or the same pace combo with Kuldeep as the spinner. 

[Clarke]

Hopefully it's time to play 4 quicks again 

[velu]

hitman is happy  

[Vilander]

Aus arse will be on fire then..play 4 pacers play bhuvi and drop ash

[Vilander]

Aussie hacks will be bundled for below 100 if its a fiery pitch..lolz

[mishra]

Aussie pacers are still better then us. Its just that they are missing there number 1 and number 2 batsmen.

 

So all in all, a very good tactics  by Australia to neutralize the batting and make next test match a competition between bowlers

[Oldhere]

I think i heard same before 2008 Perth test where they were to unleash Tait on us.

 

That pitch was also termed as paciest that India will ever see.

 

We shldnt fall into the trap and bat first if it isnt that green.

[sandeep]

Same team unless injuries.  I'd be tempted to look at Jaddu or Bhuvi in place of Rohit, or even Vihari, but an old-fashioned pacy and bouncy track in Perth, is probably the one place you'd consider picking Rohit.  And he did 'look good' in the 1st innings.  You'd expect Lyon not to be as effective at Perth as he was in Adelaide...

[The Dark Horse]

They said the same before Adelaide test.

[ShoonyaSifar]

Going by recent history, such big talk has also led to disappointments. Hopefully this time it is true and we see a real pact bouncy wicket that retains its zip for 3-4 days.

[Suhaan]

Send sos to Siraj and unleash him in here

[diga]

54 minutes ago, Clarke said:

Hopefully it's time to play 4 quicks again 

If we play 4 quicks , need to play Vihari for his spin bowling

[express bowling]

1. Rahul  ( assuming Shaw is still unavailable )

2. Ashwin   (  Vijay is a walking wicket anyway )

3. Pujara

4. Kohli

5. Rahane

6. Rohit /  Vihari

7. Pant

8. Bhuvi

9. Ishant

10. Shami

11. Bumrah

 

 

I will play this team 

 

Improvements -- 

-- 4 pacers

-- 5 bowlers 

 

Similarities retained -- 

-- Specialist batting till 7, some batting till 8

-- Similar shitty openers like this test.  

-- One spinner

Edited December 10, 2018 by express bowling

[The Dark Horse]

7 minutes ago, express bowling said:

1. Rahul  ( assuming Shaw is still unavailable )

2. Ashwin   (  Vijay is a walking wicket anyway )

3. Pujara

4. Kohli

5. Rahane

6. Rohit /  Vihari

7. Pant

8. Bhuvi

9. Ishant

10. Shami

11. Bumrah

 

 

I will play this team 

 

Improvements -- 

-- 4 pacers

-- 5 bowlers 

 

Similarities retained -- 

-- Specialist batting till 7, some batting till 8

-- Similar shitty openers like this test.  

-- One spinner

If Ashwin is ok with opening, they should do that. But Kohli wouldn't..he plays it safe 

[rkt.india]

1 hour ago, Mosher said:

Play with 4 pacers? Bhuvi as the 4th pacer? or the same pace combo with Kuldeep as the spinner. 

Kuldeep will be a disaster. Ashwin any day over him.

[SRT100]

27 minutes ago, express bowling said:

1. Rahul  ( assuming Shaw is still unavailable )

2. Ashwin   (  Vijay is a walking wicket anyway )

3. Pujara

4. Kohli

5. Rahane

6. Rohit /  Vihari

7. Pant

8. Bhuvi

9. Ishant

10. Shami

11. Bumrah

 

 

I will play this team 

 

Improvements -- 

-- 4 pacers

-- 5 bowlers 

 

Similarities retained -- 

-- Specialist batting till 7, some batting till 8

-- Similar shitty openers like this test.  

-- One spinner

I do like your selection, but it will never ever be used. But I do agree with it and wish they did go with this eleven.

 

I would take Vihari at 6.

[Mosher]

3 hours ago, rkt.india said:

Kuldeep will be a disaster. Ashwin any day over him.

Ashwin has been poor in Australia and he struggled to get the tailender's wicket on a 5th day pitch. Atleast with Kuldeep the tail will find it difficult to pick his deliveries.

[rkt.india]

16 minutes ago, Mosher said:

Ashwin has been poor in Australia and he struggled to get the tailender's wicket on a 5th day pitch. Atleast with Kuldeep the tail will find it difficult to pick his deliveries.

Don't think he was poor in this game overall.  6 wickets in a test in Australia anywhere is a pretty good test.  Yes day 5 looked a bit innocuous but still did enough to retain his spot. he gave some crucial breakthroughs in both the innings.