Pakistan use marble slabs to tackle Perth’s pace and bounce

Pakistan Practice Session. (Photo Source: Twitter/@LouisDBCameron)

The upcoming Test series between Pakistan and Australia has generated buzz about the Perth surface, even before the game kicks off. Although the Optus Stadium in Perth is not the WACA, it has maintained the legacy of its predecessor with its signature bounce and pace.

The Pakistani team have adopted an unconventional approach during their net sessions to tackle the expected seam movement. They have strategically placed a slab of marble at the centre of the practice pitch, hoping to refine their skills against the unpredictable movement.

“Pakistan have got a unique training device in the nets: a slab of marble. Mohammad Rizwan had it tilted on angle. They hope it will help them deal with Perth’s extra bounce,” Loius Cameron wrote on his ‘X’ posting the images of Pakistan’s practice session.

Pakistan have not won a Test match in Australia since 1995, while Australia boast an impressive record against Pakistan, with only one loss in their last ten encounters. The Perth surface has less grass, and Australia’s coach, Andrew McDonald, explained that the strategy behind the pitch preparation is to create a fair contest between bat and ball by emphasising bounce and pace.

“My theory is to have it a little bit harder on top and a little bit less grass and see what impact that has on the game. Grass is pace and bounce. That’s what people are looking for and that’s essentially what I’m looking for in a really good long-format wicket,” Australia coach Andrew McDonald was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.

“You talk to the fast bowlers and batters and it’s a good even contest between bat and ball, anytime there is bounce and pace in the surface. If you get in, there are runs a plenty and if you find the right line and length, there’s reward for you as well. It always creates a fair and even contest. I think the bounce. As you said, the Gabba presents bounce. Perth presents bounce as well. So I think anytime a team, in particular, coming from the subcontinent, is challenged with that first up, it makes hopefully for a slow start for them. Hopefully we can expose them on a bouncy surface. So that is an advantage,” he added.