Fresh stadium to sport familiar feel

Test cricket may have moved across the Swan River from the WACA Ground to Perth Stadium, but the traditional pace and bounce of the iconic venue has not been left behind. 

Friday's second Domain Test will be the inaugural five-day fixture at the 60,000-seat, $1.6 billion Perth Stadium, the home of icon Test series, international limited-overs cricket and the Perth Scorchers.

With only a handful of matches to draw upon, the characteristics of the new stadium's wicket square are still being discovered, but early reports suggest the second Test pitch will be reminiscent of the fast-bowling friendly surfaces of the past. 

Perhaps the strongest indication of how the wicket will play is the JLT Sheffield Shield match that took place at the venue a fortnight ago.

In that match, NSW defeated Western Australia by 104 runs in a low-scoring encounter dominated by Blues batter Kurtis Patterson (107no and 43) and fast bowling.

WA quick Jhye Richardson collected 8-47 in the first innings and 11 wickets for the match, while fast bowling accounted for 32 of the 40 wickets to fall.

Those who participated in that match suggest the captains on Friday morning will be tempted to bowl first at the sight of grass-covered firm pitch.

But by the fourth and fifth day, large, snaking cracks are expected to cover the wicket and make batting a risky proposition.

If there is any uncertainty about the danger cracks pose batters, look back at the thunderbolt spearhead Mitchell Starc delivered to England's James Vince last summer.

That ball deviated like a left-arm off-break at express pace to clatter Vince’s exposed stumps.

Test rookie and Perth native Marcus Harris admitted on Wednesday he's never set foot inside Perth Stadium, one of four players in the Australia camp in Perth who haven't played at the new ground (Usman Khawaja, Peter Siddle and Peter Handscomb the others) but he has gathered intel from those who have.

The move across the Swan River could be seen as giving up home ground advantage, but a look at the recent history suggests that may not be the case.

In the past 10 Tests at the WACA, dating back to January 2008, Australia have won five, lost four and drawn one.

That loss rate of 40 per cent is the highest among Australia’s five regular Test venues – SCG, MCG, Gabba, Adelaide Oval and WACA Ground – over the past 10 matches at each ground.

Perhaps the only bad omen is the fact the visiting side has won every match in Perth Stadium’s short history.

But Harris says the playing experience on the ground that the hosts boast will hold them in good stead.

"Obviously, it's not the WACA but from what I've heard from the boys that have played Shield games there the wicket is as quick and as bouncy, so I think it will suit us," Harris said.

"We played some one-day games there, some Big Bash games there. I think we'll still have the advantage if there's any.

"It will be interesting to see how it plays and the game pans out.

"I haven't been to the new stadium so it will be a new experience for me.

"But it will be great to play the first Test match there and hopefully get a win for us."

Domain Test Series v India

Dec 6-10: First Test, Adelaide Oval, India won by 31 runs

Dec 14-18: Second Test, Perth Stadium

Dec 26-30: Third Test, MCG

Jan 3-7: Fourth Test, SCG

Australia squad: Tim Paine (c, wk), Josh Hazlewood (vc), Mitch Marsh (vc), Pat Cummins, Aaron Finch, Peter Handscomb, Marcus Harris, Travis Head, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Shaun Marsh, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Chris Tremain

India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Murali Vijay, KL Rahul, Prithvi Shaw, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Ravi Ashwin, Ravi Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar