Perth Stadium Curator Prepares for Ashes After 2024 Wickets Chaos
Hey everyone, here’s the latest from the cricket world as we gear up for the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium. After last year’s dramatic opening day, where 17 wickets fell and the bowlers had a field day, WACA curator Isaac McDonald has been busy making sure history doesn’t repeat itself.
Last year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy clash kicked off with Australia’s quicks and India’s star pacer Jasprit Bumrah running riot on a pitch that seemed tailor-made for bowlers. But by the second day, the surface had softened and started favouring the batsmen, allowing India to rack up the runs and eventually secure a commanding 295-run win. That chaotic start has clearly left a mark on McDonald, who admits he might have started preparing the pitch a day later than ideal.
Also Read:- First Look at The Hunger Games Prequel: Sunrise on the Reaping
- Foregate Street Shut After Woman Hit by Bus in Worcester
This time around, the approach is different. McDonald has started the preparation a day earlier to ensure the pitch has the right firmness, pace, and bounce – the signature traits that WA cricket fans love. He’s keeping the grass length between eight and ten millimetres, similar to previous years, but is leaving final decisions until closer to the match. The goal is clear: maintain the classic West Australian Test conditions, fast and bouncy, not low and slow. McDonald also dismissed claims that any pressure would come from Australia to make the pitch spin-friendly for Nathan Lyon. He stressed that the pitch will reflect traditional WA characteristics and no directives from anyone influence this decision.
For the players, this is a welcome news. Australia will be missing Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood due to injuries, while England is contemplating unleashing the firepower of Jofra Archer and Mark Wood together. Mitchell Starc, the only member of Australia’s big three fast bowlers available, noted how different Perth Stadium pitches have played. From the flat and slow surface to ones that crack and bounce like the old WACA, he says it’s all about adapting to the wicket on the day.
So, as the Ashes kicks off this Friday, fans can expect the traditional pace and bounce of Perth to be in full swing. The lessons from 2024 have been taken seriously, and McDonald’s careful preparation should provide a balanced contest between bat and ball. It’s shaping up to be a thrilling start to what promises to be a classic Ashes series.
Read More:
0 Comments