(Image Source: X)
[Saba Sports News] Before the Pakistan-Australia Test series begins, there’s much talk about Perth’s fast, bouncy pitch. The Optus Stadium, although different from the WACA, continues its legacy of pace and bounce.
To prepare, the Pakistani team has been practicing with a marble slab on the pitch to adapt to seam movement. This unique training method, highlighted by Mohammad Rizwan’s use of an angled slab, aims to help them handle Perth’s bounce, as noted by Louis Cameron.
“Pakistan have got a unique training device in the nets: a slab of marble. Mohammad Rizwan had it tilted on angle. They hope it will help them deal with Perth’s extra bounce,” shared Cameron on ‘X’.
Pakistan, having not won a Test in Australia since 1995, faces a strong Australian team with only one loss in their last ten matches. The Perth pitch, with less grass, is designed for a balanced contest between bat and ball, focusing on bounce and pace.
Australia’s coach Andrew McDonald aims for a hard surface with less grass to benefit both batters and bowlers, expecting the bounce to challenge the subcontinent team and possibly give Australia an advantage.
“My theory is to have it a little bit harder on top and a little bit less grass and see what impact that has on the game. Grass is pace and bounce. That’s what people are looking for and that’s essentially what I’m looking for in a really good long-format wicket,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald shared.