BGT 2024-25: Explained | How Perth pitch suddenly became easier to bat on day 2
Day 1 Perth pitch (L) as opposed to Day 2 (Source: Screengrab)
India are sitting on top at the moment in the first Border-Gavaskar Trophy (BGT) Test after taking a 200-plus-run lead in Perth. India didn't lose a single wicket on Saturday (Nov 23) - the second day of the Test after being all-out for 150 on day 1 itself within two sessions.
The pitch, which saw 17 wickets falling in total on the first day, eased out considerably on day 2 and only three wickets fell on the day that too in the first session.
How the pitch became easier in Perth on day 2?
The Optus Stadium in Perth uses a drop-in pitch - installed in the stadium after being prepared elsewhere as opposed to the traditional method of preparing the pitch in the ground itself.
The pitch had about 12mm of grass cover - giving it a lush green look on day 1. With the rain predicted in the area leading up to the Test, the curator may have not watered the pitch enough in order to prevent it from becoming damp and soft, should it rain.
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The predicted weather, however, took a U-turn and the sun kept shining nicely which baked the surface and evaporated any moisture from it on Saturday. With moisture gone, the lateral movement of the ball off the pitch also disappeared.
The sun baking the pitch also dried up the grass cover, hence the bounce reduced too. The same was acknowledged by the Aussie head coach Andrew McDonald after the second day's play.
"The surface looked considerably drier today, and it dried out fairly quickly," McDonald said.
The ball, which was coming onto the bat nicely already, stopped moving - making it a bit easier for the batters to play. The same was evident by Australia's last wicket stand - 25 runs of 108 balls.
While the situation definitely became easier to bat, the Indian openers were also brilliant and applied themselves against some tight Australian bowling and refused to give up their wicket.
India finished day 2 with a total lead of 218 runs after openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (90 not out) and KL Rahul (62 not out) added an unbeaten 172 runs for the opening wicket.