Green pitch in Perth could backfire for Australia: Michael Vaughan

In a desperate attempt to bounce back from the defeat in the first Test, Australia have prepared a green top for the upcoming second Test against India.  A loss in the second Test will not only see Australia conceding an unassailable lead to India but also the Border-Gavaskar series. Tim Paine & Co. had given India a run for their money but their valiant effort eventually went in vain as they lost the series-opener by 31 runs.

And with the series pretty much on the line, Australia are taking no chance whatsoever. WACA head curator Brett Sipthorpe, on Thursday, revealed he was ordered to make fast and bouncy wicket.”We’ve just been told make it fast, make it bouncy if you can and run with it. We’re just trying to produce the bounciest pitch we can,” Sipthorpe told cricket.com.au.

Australia’s strong pace lineup, comprising Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood would certainly lick their fingers after watching the green top. However, former England skipper Michael Vaughan has warned the hosts that the green pitch could backfire because of India’s strong pace attack. The Ashes-winning skipper believes the visitors will be thankful for the pitch after watching their bowlers’ fine show in Adelaide as well as in South Africa and England earlier this year.

Virat Kohli unfazed

“Certainly from seeing the Indian attack in England and at the Adelaide Oval, Bumrah, Shami and Sharma will be going to bed tonight thinking thank you. The actual three quicks of India out bowled the three quicks of Australia. They were outstanding…It’s a big big risk that Australia are taking,” Vaughan told reporters.

“They clearly need a pitch that they feel they can get at the Indian batsmen but I just look to the game at Adelaide Oval, it wasn’t the pitch, it wasn’t anything to do with the conditions. It was just that India produced more discipline for longer periods,” he added.

Meanwhile, India skipper Virat Kohli has said he is not bothered about the pitch. In fact, he went on to say that he does not want the grass to be removed from the pitch, thus sending out a strong signal to the hosts. I hope no more grass is taken off the pitch.

Because that will mean the first three days will be very lively and we as a team are pretty happy with that. “This pitch is going to offer significantly more to the bowlers than Adelaide. That’s something we’re very excited about,” Kohli said.

~Written by Bijoy

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