Wed Nov 20 20:40:00 UTC 2024: ## Perth Rain Hampers Pitch Preparation for India-Australia Test
**PERTH, AUSTRALIA (November 21, 2024)** – Unseasonal rain in Perth has disrupted preparations for the first Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between India and Australia, WACA head curator Isaac McDonald revealed on Wednesday. Days of rain, culminating in a completely covered pitch on Tuesday, significantly reduced preparation time.
While McDonald doesn’t anticipate the pitch at the Optus Stadium developing the characteristic “snake cracks” associated with the venue under dry conditions, he expects it to retain good pace and bounce. The reduced preparation time, however, means the surface will likely retain more moisture than usual, limiting severe deterioration throughout the five-day match.
“It’s definitely not traditional Perth Test prep,” McDonald said. “Yesterday we pretty much lost the whole day of prep…But we’re sitting quite comfortably still. It’d be nice if the sun would pop out.”
The curator explained that while some deterioration and variable bounce is expected, the heavy rain makes the extreme cracking unlikely. The forecast is currently clear for the remainder of the week, although temperatures aren’t expected to rise dramatically. McDonald hopes for sunshine to help firm up the pitch and achieve the ideal balance between bat and ball. The grass cover will be significantly higher than the 4mm used for a recent ODI at the same venue, aiming for 8-10mm, similar to last year.
Despite the challenges, McDonald remains confident in delivering a high-quality playing surface, emphasizing the excitement and positive energy surrounding the opening match of this highly anticipated series. He declined to speculate on the captain’s toss decision, stating that is “way above my pay grade”. The match is set to begin on Friday.
First Piper 