Sign in

India vs Australia: Ishant, Bumrah and Shami will love a pacey track in Perth feels Bharat Arun

Perth Stadium curator Brett Sipthorpe is keen to produce a fast, bouncy wicket that would not be out of place at the WACA.

Updated on: Dec 13, 2018, 08:31:09 IST
Perth | By
Share
Share via
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • linkedin
  • whatsapp
Copy link
  • copy link

India pacers Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah took 14 of the 20 wickets at Adelaide Oval in a fine debut as a pace trio on Australian soil that helped fire the tourists to a 31-run win on Monday and India coach Ravi Shastri said all three were being spared net duties on Tuesday in a bid to freshen up before the opening day of the second Test starting at the Perth Stadium on Friday.

The Indian fast bowlers picked 14 of the 20 wickets at the Adelaide Oval during the first Test against Australia. (AP)
The Indian fast bowlers picked 14 of the 20 wickets at the Adelaide Oval during the first Test against Australia. (AP)

“I think fast bowlers are a precious commodity and they need to be taken care of like what you do with a racehorse,” India bowling coach Bharat Arun told reporters in Perth on Wednesday.

“And that’s exactly what’s happening.”

Friday’s Test will be the first played at the new Perth Stadium, which has a drop-in pitch and succeeded the WACA as the city’s premier venue for internationals. Perth Stadium curator Brett Sipthorpe is keen to produce a fast, bouncy wicket that would not be out of place at the WACA.

ALSO READ: Ricky Ponting on Australia’s playing XI for second Test at Perth

Arun said India’s bowlers would welcome that prospect following the relatively unhelpful track served up at Adelaide.

“Definitely with a little help from the wicket, obviously the bowlers would love that sort of a wicket,” he said. “Again, whatever is in the offing, we are happy with it.”

However, he said he would urge his bowlers to stick to the same recipe that brought success in Adelaide -- consistency and sustained pressure.

“You can be carried away with the extra pace and bounce but again you need to understand that on any responsive track, what is really going to be successful is your consistency,” he said.

“And that’s exactly what we’re going to work with the bowlers.”

While the quicks were akin to racehorses, Arun likened spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, who took six wickets and bowled a huge load at Adelaide, to a fine wine.

“Spinners mature a lot with age, maybe they’re like wine,” he said.

“He helped us gain control. He gave us the control, bowling close to 90 overs for 147 runs and six wickets, you can’t ask for better.”

Get live cricket scores, match updates, schedules, results and ICC rankings. Follow the latest news, statistics and performances of top teams and players on Hindustan Times.