IND vs AUS 1st Test: Optus Stadium, Perth Pitch Report

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The much-awaited Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) 2024-25 between India and Australia begins with the first Test at Perth’s Optus Stadium. Both teams are preparing carefully, understanding the pitch conditions and how they can use them to their advantage. The match is not only important for the series but also for both teams’ chances of reaching the ICC World Test Championship final.

How will surface at the Optus Stadium in Perth play?

Optus Stadium is known for its fast and bouncy pitch, which gives pace bowlers a lot of help. Historically, Australian fast bowlers have outperformed visiting bowlers at this venue, with an average of 22.04 compared to 36.53 for overseas pacers. The spinners have also found it tough to make an impact here. Australian spinners have a much better record, averaging 18.61, whereas visiting spinners average 108.50.

Despite the pitch favouring fast bowlers, Nathan Lyon is a big threat. Since the 2018-19 season, Lyon has taken 27 wickets in four matches at an average of 18.00, including his best figures of 6/128. His record in the fourth innings, with 17 wickets, including two five-wicket hauls, shows he can still make a difference even as the pitch starts to deteriorate.

Changes in the Pitch Over Time

Optus Stadium uses a drop-in pitch, meaning the pitch is prepared off-site and then placed into the ground. This type of pitch can sometimes show small differences compared to traditional surfaces. The change from the old WACA pitch to the new Optus Stadium pitch has brought some improvements for spinners. At WACA, spinners had an average of 44, but now at Optus Stadium, their average has dropped to 33.

Even with these changes, pacers still dominate. They have taken 102 wickets at an average of 29.71. With 1,014 overs bowled by pacers compared to just 393 overs bowled by spinners, the fast bowlers will be the ones to watch.

Toss Will Be Crucial for Both Teams

The toss has been very important at Optus Stadium. In all four games played here, the team that won the toss ended up winning the match. The first-innings average score at the stadium is 456, showing that batting first is often the best strategy. As the game progresses, the pitch usually becomes more difficult, with teams struggling to score more than 200 runs in the fourth innings. This makes winning the toss even more critical.

Given this trend, the team winning the toss on Friday is expected to bat first, hoping to make the most of the conditions before the pitch starts to break down

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