Debasis Sen, Adelaide: Australia coach Justin Langer on Tuesday warned the Indian batsmen that the drop in wicket at the Perth Stadium will provide plenty of pace and bounce for Australia’s quicks as the hosts look to level the Test series against India.
The Optus stadium has hosted just one first-class match – when NSW beat Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield last month.
Langer hopes the wicket can replicate the conditions at the WACA, which was famous for its pace and bounce.
“I’m really fascinated and can’t wait to see what the Optus wicket brings,” Langer said.
“I went and watched a bit of the game, NSW versus WA. Certainly some pace and bounce.”
“We’ve (also) seen some pace and bounce in it during the one-dayers and T20 game.”
Langer has declared Tim Paine a certain starter for the second Test despite the skipper’s injury scare on Monday.
Paine was struck on his right index finger while batting in the 31-run loss in Adelaide.
It is the same finger Paine has needed seven operations on over seven years.
“Painey is the toughest pretty boy I’ve ever met in my life,” Langer said.
“Even if it was snapped in about four places he’d still be right. He’s absolutely fine.
“He’s obviously had issues with it before but he is 100 per cent ready to go.”
Langer also praised the fighting spirit his team displayed in the first Test, but said they needed to build bigger batting partnerships.
The 50-run partnership between Pat Cummins and Travis Head in the first innings was Australia’s largest of the match.
Langer said pace trio Mitchell Starc, Cummins, and Josh Hazlewood all pulled up really well, and that veteran Peter Siddle would be on standby merely as a precaution.