Perth Test 2019: Fire and brimstone set to return in west
Perth’s unpredictable pitch combined with the pink ball under lights could make life a living hell for batsmen in the first Test against New Zealand.
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Blood and thunder could return to the Wild West this week as players brace for a brutal pink ball barrage on a volatile Perth pitch.
Despite the already favourable east coast TV timeslot for matches in Perth, Cricket Australia has spread its day-night gospel west in a bid to boost crowd numbers at the $1.6 billion Optus Stadium.
When Australia A faced Pakistan at the venue last month, an avalanche of wickets fell under lights, which reflected not only the lack of local batting depth, but the recipe for carnage that could play out when the first Test kicks off against New Zealand on Thursday.
The Perth pitch was rated as “poor” by the International Cricket Council on its Test debut last summer against India. Although the players enjoyed the shock of finally having some unpredictability in an Australian wicket, there was a “dicey” element for the batsmen.
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Australian pace spearhead Pat Cummins says the pink ball would still likely produce some docile periods during the daytime hours, but believes things could light up at night, especially if the pitch behaves as wickedly it did last summer.
“Last year for the first Test match, it was good for bowlers in that it had the pace and bounce we want from the WACA or Perth wickets, but it did play a few tricks,” Cummins told The Sunday Telegraph.
“The odd ball kicked up and I think Finchy (Aaron Finch) split his finger off one that jumped up off a length.
“It was a little bit dicey at some times during that match but we’ll wait and see what happens this year.
“I think the main thing is most of the games, whether it’s Big Bash or the Test match, that’s been played there, always seem to have quite a bit of pace and bounce.”
Cricket Australia has seen major uplifts in crowds at Adelaide and Brisbane where it has introduced day-night Test cricket, and is hoping for a similar result in Perth, where crowd numbers were slightly underwhelming last summer given it was the inaugural Test at a new stadium against the might of India.
Broadcasters Fox Cricket and Channel 7 aren’t complaining at the prospect of now getting two sessions in prime time on the east coast.
“Cricket is the only sport that asks fans to attend during school and work hours, and the day-night Test gives Perth fans the best opportunity to come to the cricket outside of school holidays,” a CA spokesman said.
“There are twilight tickets available from 3.20pm for $23 for adults, $8 for kids and $49 for families.”
Two Bangladeshi batsmen were left concussed by blows to the head they copped under lights in the recent day-night Test against India in Kolkata.
There’s been no suggestion of any danger for batsmen during Australia’s long history of pink ball games, although Australian captain Tim Paine says wicketkeeping and slips fielding is harder at night.
Commentators complained during last week’s Adelaide pink ball Test against Pakistan that the ball goes too soft during the daytime hours – but Cummins says players simply have to embrace the fact this is one of the nuances of day-night Test cricket.
“The pink ball is a funny one. It seems like the game doesn’t move very quickly for a couple of sessions and then suddenly in one session it feels like something is happening every ball,” said Cummins, who was promoting a new summer range for watchmakers, Hublot.
“I’m sure that’s just going to be the same over there … if the ball stays hard, hopefully that wicket is going to have something in it for us.
“I love the format when it’s under lights and things are swinging around for us bowlers. When it’s slow and flat, like every other bowler, I find it hard work.”
TEST COUNTDOWN
SUNDAY: Australia conduct team meetings and attend under 19s championships
MONDAY: Australia day-time training session at the WACA. NZ twilight/night-time training session at Perth Stadium.
TUESDAY: Australia afternoon training session at the WACA — their main session with bowlers bowling at full tilt. NZ to train at the same time at Perth Stadium.
WEDNESDAY: Australia hold light captain’s run training session at Perth Stadium in the morning. NZ to hold their last session under lights in evening. Tim Paine and Kane Williamson to hold captains’ press conferences.
THURSDAY: Day-night Test starts 1pm local time, 4pm AEDT