Pak vs Aus: Perth Stadium prepped with drop-in pitches
Cricket Australia has been preparing the pitch at the Perth stadium since February this year
November 29, 2023
Pakistan is ready to take on Australia, the World Cup and ICC World Test champions, in a Test series from December 14 to 18 at the Perth Stadium in Western Australia, which is being prepped with five drop-in pitches in its wicket square.
Each drop-in pitch being installed in the stadium weighs approximately 25 tonnes. The meticulous process of the pitch installation spanned over two days.
Cricket Australia has been preparing the pitch at the Perth stadium since February with WA Cricket curators tending to it on a daily basis. The curators are stationed in the nursery located next to the outdoor practice wickets on the northern side of the stadium.
The drop-in wicket contains the same local clay and grass species as the pitches at the WACA Ground and is closely monitored during its growth to replicate the Ground’s fast and bouncy nature.
Last week, the drop-in wicket was moved by a 30-meter-long, 40-tonne cricket wicket transporter onto the stadium playing surface. The machine is the only one of its kind in Western Australia.
This will be followed by five Perth Scorchers BBL13 home matches, with the reigning titleholders to play their first home match on December 20.
The Pakistan cricket team will play their first Test match against Australia in Perth from December 14 to 18, followed by one in Melbourne, from December 26. Sydney will host the last game of the tour from January 3, 2024.
The squad is set to depart from Lahore on November 30.
Meanwhile, two new faces have been confirmed to join the Pakistani coaching staff for the upcoming tour of Australia for the three-match Test series.
Former England all-rounder Adam Hollioake and Australia's Simon Grant Helmot will be part of Pakistan's team management on the Test tour Down Under, Geo Super reported.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) revealed the coaching staff for the away series.
As per PCB, Simon, 51, will serve as a high-performance coach. The Aussie has previously been part of various T20 franchises across the globe and has worked with Bangladesh as their high-performance coach.
Holliaoke, on the other hand, will serve as the batting coach. He has earlier coached the England Lions and Hong Kong cricket teams in the past.
