WACA curator predicts bouncy Perth track

Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) curator Cameron Sutherland has warned India to be prepared for a bouncy track for the third Test against Australia beginning at Perth Friday.

Sutherland said the wicket will be similar to last year’s Ashes Test, when paceman Mitchell Johnson ripped through England with 9-82 for the match to inspire Australia to a 267-run win.

“We think it will play pretty similar to last year against England, where it had a bit of colour and had a bit of grass on it. It’s kind of a different grass we’ve used over the last couple of years. It’s really fine,” Sutherland was quoted as saying by The Age.

“So even if you leave grass on it and it has a bit of colour in it, it doesn’t seam excessively. It just gives a bit to the new ball and then it settles into a pretty good batting wicket,” he said.

Australia are mulling whether to go for a four-man pace attack or stick with a spinner in Perth. But with coach Micky Aurthur keen on having a good balance in his attack, Australia are highly unlikely to drop spinner Nathan Lyon from the third Test. Injury-prone paceman Ryan Harris is almost certain to win a starting berth in place of James Pattinson.