Perth Test: Spicy Pitch, Fiery Opposition; Trial By Fire Awaits Team India

After an embarrassing whitewash, straight into a test by fire. Team India won’t find it easy in Australia. The first Test on a fiery Perth wicket would be a massive challenge. Players would not only need to shed the baggage of the New Zealand series loss, but also adapt to the new conditions quickly. It requires a mental shift. Optus stadium in Perth is certainly not the place where they would have liked to do it.

Australians have surely planned a hostile welcome for Team India. The series opener, if things don’t go right, would be a morale dampener for the visiting side. Reputations would be on the line. The team would carry the wrong weight through the entire length of the series. Anywhere else in Australia but Perth to begin a series would have been fine. The Aussies have a perfect record at the newly-built Optus stadium, winning all their four matches here so far. The first win was against India in 2018.

The diehard fan is eager to help with advice: ‘Win the toss and decide to bowl first. Or lose the toss and hope Australia chooses to bat. In the eventuality of batting first, hang on till the initial storm blows over and the new ball loses its bite. Don’t lose wickets till the 15th over. This is Perth. Pace and bounce are the signature traits of its pitches. Extra caution is of import here, not adventurism.’

There would be a word for the bowlers too. ‘Don’t get carried away by the carry and speed the pitch offers. The Australians are familiar with it; they won’t be impressed. Focus on the right areas to bowl instead. The pitch at Optus would require adjustment. The length that worked in India won’t work there. It goes for both spinners and pacers.’ For someone not anywhere close to the thick of action, it’s easy to advise. For those feeling the heat out there it’s different though.

Isaac McDonald, head curator of Western Australian Cricket, has ensured that Perth does not lose its reputation. “This is Australia, this is Perth. I’m setting ourselves up for a really good pace, really good bounce and really good carry,” he told the news portal ESPNcricinfo.com. There’s a bit of surprise rain too, adding unpredictability to the nature of the pitch.

The news from the Indian camp has not been encouraging so far. Regular skipper Rohit Sharma would be missing in action. The man likely for the opener’s duty in his place, Shubman Gill, has a thumb injury and could be out too. That leaves the top order a bit low on experience and shaky. Senior batters like KL Rahul and Virat Kohli have not been in great touch of late. The likes of Sarfaraz Khan, who may get a look in, may prove technically inadequate on a testing wicket. The bowling attack too looks shallow without Mohd Shami. Spinners won’t have a big role here, so Jasprit Bumrah would be required to do the bulk heavy-lifting.

This is the core team of the future. It’s curious we have such apprehensions, isn’t it? If only India didn’t have that humiliating loss to New Zealand. It has thrown many doubts into our assessment of the team. One hopes they get back their resilient streak and put all apprehension to rest.