Australia vs India 2018: ICC Rates Perth Pitch ''Average"
Updated - 21 Dec 2018, 06:52 PM
Well, the most talked about Perth wicket was rated as Average by the International Cricket Council (ICC). They felt that it was not the wicket to play the highest standard of cricket, especially, Test match, which longs for a five-day period. Meanwhile, all the eyes on the Melbourne wicket, which is to host the Boxing Day Test.
During the second Test at the Perth’s new Optus Stadium, Australia opener Aaron Finch had to retire hurt after copping a blow to his finger. His opening partner Marcus Harris was hit on the helmet by a lifter from Mohammed Shami resulting in him falling flat on the ground.
Apart from those, there was an occasion where batsmen need to take the blow because of the uncertainty of the pitch. Further, the wicket also saw the ball keeping low, which resulted in wickets for the bowlers as well.
Melbourne wicket will yield a result – Peter Siddle
Peter Siddle is confident there will be no repeat of last year’s Boxing Day bore draw, also suggesting victory in Perth will only further encourage Australia.
Two of the past four Tests at the MCG have resulted in draws. The curator Matt Page is working hard to inject some life into flat drop-in pitches that have copped general criticism
“The boys should be excited because it’s definitely going to be a result wicket I think, going by what’s happened in the first couple of Shield games this season,” Siddle told Australian radio station SEN.
"It's good, hard Test cricket" #AUSvIND pic.twitter.com/t3H9a9U5cS
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 16, 2018
“It’s played alright this year. He (Page) knows what he’s got to do now leading into the Test. It was actually a good cricket wicket (when Siddle played for Victoria at the MCG last month). There was going to be a result; we got washed out on the last day needing 100 runs.”
Well, it would be interesting to see how things would cope up for the third Test at MCG. Meanwhile, curators have got an extra job on their part to hand a decent wicket for the much intriguing Test match.
