Perth Pitch: Cat comes out

Perth Pitch: Cat comes out

As the most of the cricketing experts were writing about bounce and speed of and Australian captain Ricky Pointing was predicting about his surprise if the Perth test going into fifth day’s play. In all the probabilities it looks that test is not going to witness its fifth sunrise, at least the stamps time of second day’s play is supporting this very strongly but cricket is the game of uncertain glories and every thing that predicted before the last bowl is, may remain in the circle of predictions only without taking the shape of reality.

A great fearful atmosphere was created by the Australian players about the speedy nature of the pitch; they even considered this 22 yard strip as the most fast one of the world and included Shaun Tait in playing eleven to complete square of all speedsters attack. India also made changes; Shewag and Pathan were in replacing Yuvraj and Harbhajan.

When the coin favored by matching with the calling of Indian captain and India decided to bat the decision was seen under the clouds of doubts, but the Indian tigers wounded from the Sydney test were with a different game plan, as they have to prove a point that Sydney defeat was not a cricketing defeat but was the result of ever worst umpiring seen by the world. India went on to score a satisfactory total of 297 runs in the 84 over bowled during the day’s play. The picture might look rosier if Sachin might no fall pray of yet another wrong decision of umpiring and might the casualness in shot selection shown by the Laxman and Dravid has been avoided.

The secod day’s provided the space for pitch cat to come out, as in the day’s play of just over the 75 over proved sufficient to see as many as fifteen [15] returning back to pavilion. It was not surprising as it was already predicted and assumed that 22 yard strip will prove supportive for the Australian speedsters. The surprising was that India not only score 330 runs in the first inning to gain some what respect though it was not matching with the required score of a team bating first and willing to win the match.

Here on wards the pitch cat, which was handled by the Indians with great caution, care and some extant with authority, started to prove a deadly composition for the Australians. The 22 yard strip proved nourishing for the swing of Indian medium pacers [baring sharma who was bowling in vicinity of 140] and all was started by Irfan Pathan and R. P. Sing, soon the mighty Australians were struggling at 61 for 5 wickets of top order batsmen. Thanks to nocks of 66 and 55 runs by Symonds [fortunate being dropped] and Gilchrist respectively to help the team to cross the mark of 200, as the team is dismissed for paltry 212 runs allowing India to enjoy a considerable lead of 118 runs. In the 11 over play of second inning India scored 52 runs for the loss of one wicket to take the over all lead to 170.

Still two sunsets and one whole day are left before the schedule time of match is called over and if the pitch cat keep on behaving on similar lines with same handling by the Indians, it seems possible in all probabilities that India will go on to stretch the lead in the vicinity of 450 than surely world will witness the acid test for the Australian batting line after so many years at WACA.

Whoever team go on to win but surely the Perth test seems to be an addition to tally of test results. At present India is holding upper hand and a strong rear guard action is required by Australia to save the test. I am looking forward to watch the concentration of Australians under the pressure and assuming an Indian win at the WACA.


The second days play also brought the glory and memorable movements for Indian Mr. Perfect ten, skipper Anil Kubale, who went on take the test wicket tally to 600 wickets with the wicket of Symonds. Jumbo with this succeeded in proving once again that still he is effective even on the pitch which was made to favor speedsters.