Australia set to crack England open

Having batted on it for more than five hours on Saturday, Mitchell Marsh is confident the batsman-friendly Perth pitch has enough life in it for Australia to take the 10 England wickets they need to reclaim the Ashes.

England managed just one wicket on day three of the third Magellan Ashes Test as Australia plundered 346 runs, with Marsh posting his maiden Test hundred and Steve Smith finishing the day unbeaten on 229, his career best.

Despite its apparent flatness, the pitch has opened up to reveal some dangerous-looking cracks that should be a factor, and it gives Marsh cause to believe Australia’s hostile pace attack can bowl England out again in this match and regain the urn.

Image Id: 6042BAD22B954E2F93021946B76C86AA Image Caption: A close look at the WACA surface, thanks to Sports Technology Solutions

"I think the longer we bat, the more the cracks will come into play," Marsh said.

"There’s a pretty big crack straight down the middle stump bowling from the bottom end.

"The cracks in general haven’t done a lot, but they're in a much better position than they have been in the Shield games.

"Hopefully if we can bat well tomorrow and get a decent lead they’ll come into play."

The crack down the centre of the pitch Marsh is referring to has been measured by Sports Technology Solutions to be 12.33m long with an average width of 14mm.

Speaking after play on Friday, England wicketkeeper Jonny Bairstow said the cracks grew significantly wider from days one to two, and more separation is to be expected overnight for the start of day four.

While the second highest successful run chase of all time – South Africa’s 4-414 in 2008 – was recorded at the WACA, former Australia captain Ricky Ponting says Australia’s potent pace trio and the daunting cracks will make batting extremely difficult for England, who now face the prospect of batting last having already given up a 146-run lead and with six Australian wickets still needed.

"You know what's going to happen, when Australia bowl with a decent lead on the board it's going to look like a different wicket again," Ponting told cricket.com.au.

"Whenever you're behind on the first innings and you go out to bat on what looks like a very flat pitch you've got three guys bowling 90mph, it's not going to be easy for them.

"These cracks are getting a little bit wider, that would be inside the batter's mind.

"I don't care what anyone says, they do get inside your mind a little bit when you can see them down the middle of the wicket."

2017-18 International Fixtures

Magellan Ashes Series

Australia Test squad: Steve Smith (c), David Warner (vc), Cameron Bancroft, Usman Khawaja, Peter Handscomb, Shaun Marsh, Mitchell Marsh, Tim Paine (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood, Jackson Bird.

England Test squad: Joe Root (c), James Anderson (vc), Moeen Ali, Jonny Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook, Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton, Ben Stokes, Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.

First Test Australia won by 10 wickets. Scorecard

Second Test Australia won by 120 runs (Day-Night). Scorecard

Third Test WACA Ground, December 14-18. Tickets

Fourth Test MCG, December 26-30. Tickets

Fifth Test SCG, January 4-8 (Pink Test). Tickets

Gillette ODI Series v England

First ODI MCG, January 14. Tickets

Second ODI Gabba, January 19. Tickets

Third ODI SCG, January 21. Tickets

Fourth ODI Adelaide Oval, January 26. Tickets

Fifth ODI Perth Stadium, January 28. Tickets

Prime Minister's XI

PM's XI v England Manuka Oval, February 2. Tickets

Gillette T20 trans-Tasman Tri-Series

First T20I Australia v NZ, SCG, February 3. Tickets

Second T20I – Australia v England, Blundstone Arena, February 7. Tickets

Third T20I – Australia v England, MCG, February 10. Tickets

Fourth T20I – NZ v England, Wellington, February 14

Fifth T20I – NZ v Australia, Eden Park, February 16

Sixth T20I – NZ v England, Seddon Park, February 18

Final – TBC, Eden Park, February 21