The Optus Stadium in Perth is a new venue as far as Test cricket is concerned. Traditionally, Test matches in Perth have taken place at the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) Ground, but the new facility has been in use since January 2018 in international cricket.

What does the pitch at the Optus Stadium look like?

India were the first visiting team to play a Test match at the Optus Stadium – the second Test of their victorious 2018-19 tour Down Under. They went into that match with four fast bowlers in Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Jasprit Bumrah. Part-timer Hanuma Vihari filled in as a spin option. Australia went on to win that match by 146 runs.

Even in the most recent Test here in December 2023, Pakistan played four quicks against Australia. Across both sides, they accounted for 29 of the 35 wickets to fall, with all 15 wickets that Pakistan took going to the seamers.

The general weather conditions in Perth mean the pitch at the Optus Stadium is not dissimilar to that of the WACA, which has garnered a reputation over the years for being one of the fastest and bounciest wickets in world cricket.

Usual caveat: what pitches look like 48hrs before a Test, etc etc. #INDvAUS pic.twitter.com/3iQqeOu171

— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) November 20, 2024

Optus Stadium curator: Want to give Perth nice express bounce

Last week, head curator Isaac McDonald spoke to Cricinfo about the pitch for the first Test, saying he was "setting ourselves up for really good pace, really good bounce and really good carry."

There is some rain predicted across the first three days of the Test, which holds the potential to alter the moisture content in the surface. But McDonald also spoke on Wednesday (November 20) about the track, saying it held up well during the ODI between Australia and Pakistan on November 10, and a pitch similar to that would be likely: "In terms of pace and bounce that was really good.

Read more: India's predicted XI for the Perth Test: At least one debutant expected

"The Pakistan attack was quite skiddy, but when guys like (Australia's) Lance Morris and Spencer Johnson were really banging it into the wicket, not so much bowling short balls but hitting the surface a bit harder, that's when it was really coming through.

"So I knew the base moisture on that one-day wicket was quite similar to what I want to aim for this Test wicket, to really lock in that good moisture and give it nice express bounce. So far I've done a few tests on the (Test) wicket's moisture content readings, and we're about similar.

"So it's just whether or not the weather wants to play its part and I can hold it there or have to add a bit more moisture."

From the four Test matches so far at the Optus Stadium, it's clear that pace bowling has been extremely effective. However, one aspect in Australia's favour is that their lead spinner, Nathan Lyon, has managed to be far more successful than visiting spinners at this venue.

Lyon has bowled 187.3 of the 217.2 overs by Australian spinners here, averaging a stunning 18.0. However, it must be said that very few visiting teams have played a specialist spinner. Mitchell Santner, Salman Ali Agha and Roston Chase are the three closest ones.

Australia have also won all four of the Tests they have played at this venue. But India will now be the first visiting team that has played here before. The conditions are sure to influence their team selection, but with a bit more know-how than teams before them, they may also have the knowledge and license to take a few risks. Either way, it promises to be an exciting clash.

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