Australia may delay the naming of their final 11 for the pivotal third Ashes Test against England until match morning as the character of the WACA ground pitch slowly reveals itself.
Early predictions based upon the generous amount of grass on the surface may be left empty as the wicket dries, while close inspection has revealed the grass is of a fine nature, not likely to offer any appreciable sideways movement beyond the early hours of the match.
The question of how much pace and bounce will be on offer remains open after curator Cameron Sutherland expressed hope but no certainty the pitch would play in the rapid vein of earlier Ashes wickets in Perth.
Both sides are keen on the idea of sporting conditions, offering Australia the chance to level the series at 1-1 just as much as England the opportunity to seal the Ashes before Christmas.
West Australian-based spinner Michael Beer has been able to extract some turn from the pitch this summer, something Sutherland attributed to the grass cover.
WA selector Daryl Foster has said that Beer’s selection is curious, despite his success in the west so far this summer.
“He flights the ball nicely, I’ve seen him bowl at the WACA and he’ll bowl tidily, he seems to be a reasonably good competitor,” Foster told the Wisden Cricketer.
“Whether he’s class enough for that level time will tell.
“(Xavier) Doherty wasn’t up to that task and I don’t know that any left-arm spinner here would be up to it.
“I think Beer is slightly better – he’s a taller boy than Doherty, his action is good, he does get some drop and a bit of flight, and he’s turned the ball on the WACA, which is surprising.
“He’ll go okay, but I think it’s a panic decision.”
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