IND vs AUS 1st Test: WACA Curator Confident Perth Pitch Will Avoid "Snake Cracks" Despite Rainfall

Indian cricket team will aim for glory in upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy in Australia. India and Australia are two of greatest cricketing nations, and India’s recent whitewash against a 3-game Test series against New Zealand ds a lot more anticipation for 5-match Test series, which will start on November 22, 2024, in Perth.

Following a spell of unusual rain, WACA curator doesn't expect Perth pitch to develop "snake cracks"

WACA he curator Isaac McDonald on Wednesday said unusual rain in Perth has impacted pitch preparation for first Test of Border-Gavaskar Trophy and though he doesn't expect surface to develop "snake cracks", re will still be plenty of bounce and carry.

surface at Optus Stium or at nearby WACA ground is known for its pace and bounce and when cracks open up in dry conditions, it provides more assistance to seamers besides bringing spinners into play.

city has witnessed rain over past few days and pitch was covered for whole day on Tuesday, cutting down preparation time for curator.

"Yeah, it's definitely not tritional Perth Test prep. Yesterday we pretty much lost whole day of prep with it being under cover. So we kind of saw forecast early on and we started prep a little bit earlier than we normally would.

"So we're sitting quite comfortable still. It'd be nice if sun would pop out and do its job but as of this morning we're in a good spot, we're really comfortable as a curating team," McDonald told media ahe of series opener beginning on Friday.

pitch is likely to retain moisture come match day, effectively ruling out possibility of major deterioration over course of five days.

"I don't think wear is going to make this pitch fall apart. re'll be some deterioration, grass will stand up during game and offer that variable bounce but in terms of big snake WACA cracks, unfortunately I don't think wear is going to get us re," said he curator.

forecast is clear for Friday as well as remaining four days but temperatures are unlikely to increase drastically. McDonald wants sun to emerge from clouds at earliest so that surface can behave close to its tritional nature.

"I mean everyone talks about tritional baking of top. We can kind of manufacture that with more rolling and less water on top if we have to. We're testing wicket hour by hour so it's quite conditions based at moment.

"So at moment we're leaning towards rolling it a bit more on top to get that firmness and that happy medium between bat and ball. But yeah, fingers crossed sun pops out," he said.
Pakistan recently bundled out Australia for 140 in an ODI at Optus Stium here. grass cover was expectedly less for a limited overs game, 4mm to be exact. It will be at least double for India-Australia Test opener.

How much grass will we get to see before toss? "We've still got to try and get to a point where we think we're going to be fine by Friday. We're still in around ballpark, 8 to 10 mm, was where we were last year as well.

"So we're sitting quite comfortable and having quite open conversations within curating team of what we feel is appropriate and where to go from re. re's still be really good pace and bounce in pitch.
"It'll just come in how well y look after ball and how true surface stays. We're meant to get to 30-32 degrees over weekend so we'll see what grass on top does re but in terms of coming off cracks I just don't think we're going to get re," felt McDonald.

Perth is hosting opening game of a marquee series and that is bound to put some pressure on groundstaff. However, McDonald is not feeling heat.

"I don't think it's pressure, it doesn't change what I do. I've still got to deliver best playing surface I can. So in terms of pressure, I don't know if we're, anor word for pressure, I suppose, you know. It's nice to be first test. It's excitement around it is nice. buzz is nice. energy in our team is great. And it's something that we all look forward to every year." 

He chose to stay on fence when asked what he would do if he wins toss on Friday.

"It's way above my pay gre mate. I think we're setting ourselves up really nicely for it. All things are leing to getting that pitch rock hard come Friday morning and as I said people above my pay gre will get to choose and see what y do," McDonald ded. 

(PTI)