BGT 2024-25, Perth Test: 'Little bit surprised...,' Aussie coach on 'changed wicket' after India take charge
Indian openers put Australia into dirt on second day of Perth Test. Photograph:( AFP )
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The pitch, which saw 17 wickets falling on the first day, eased out considerably on Saturday (Nov 23) and only three wickets fell on the day that too in the first session.
The pitch, which saw 17 wickets falling on the first day, eased out considerably on Saturday (Nov 23) and only three wickets fell on the day that too in the first session.
Australia coach Andrew McDonald acknowledged that the wicket at Perth has changed after second day's play in the first Border-Gavaskar trophy (BGT) Test. The change in pitch led to batting becoming a lot easier on Saturday (Nov 23) in comparison to Day 1 of the Test (Nov 22) and India took full advantage of that.
"I think the wicket has changed considerably. If you look at the seam and swing, it was down compared to yesterday (when) it was difficult work," said McDonald at the end of the day's play.
"The surface looked considerably drier today, and it dried out fairly quickly. We thought there may have been a little bit more there, so if you want to say it we were a little bit surprised there wasn't as much seam movement or swing. And I think the bowlers were presenting the seam in a similar fashion to what they were yesterday so I think the conditions may have had some say in that," he added.
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The pitch, which saw 17 wickets falling on the first day, eased out considerably on Saturday (Nov 23) and only three wickets fell on the day that too in the first session.
India finished the day firmly on top after the first two days of cricket. The Indian bowlers, especially Jasprit Bumrah, did a wonderful job of restricting Australia to 104 after posting 150 in their first innings.
Bumrah took 5/30, his ninth away Test five-for, his 11th overall, surpassing several former greats, including Sir Andy Roberts, Allan Donald, Zaheer Khan and Denis Lillee.
The visitors ended the day with 218 runs ahead in the second innings including the first 46-run first innings lead without losing a single wicket.
Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul stitched together an unbeaten 172 runs for the first wicket – the second-highest for India in Tests in Australia. Jaiswal was not out 90 by the end of the day's play while Rahul was unbeaten on 62.
