PhoenixFire
International Coach
At the current time, I'm not very clued up about what sort of pitches they are, and what they will favour. Thanks.
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Aussie Wickets
- Thread starter PhoenixFire
- Start date
FaaipDeOiad
Hall of Fame Member
I think it's fair to say Australia usually has the most varied wickets in world cricket, though in recent years they've pretty much all been flat, like in most parts of the world. Last year we had a bit more variation than we have for a while, so if that continues we might get 5 fairly different pitches, which should make for a more interesting series.
Traditionally, Brisbane favours swing bowling, particularly if it's overcast, and you can occasionally get really lethal wickets there. Fair to expect a bit of movement on the first morning and maybe even the whole first day, then it will flatten out. Warne also loves it because of the bounce, even though it's not really known as a turning pitch and Panesar probably won't get much help.
Adelaide is usually the flattest test wicket in Australia, excluding Bellrieve, and is very good for batting for a few days and will usually turn on days 4 and 5. Australia will almost certianly play two spinners.
Perth used to be the fast bowling heaven obviously, but the last few seasons it's been very flat and if anything favours spin more than pace. Huge scores there in the Pura Cup so far this season, so I'd expect an absolute road.
Melbourne was pretty seam-friendly last year so hopefully we'll get more of the same. It's pretty unpredictable these days though, given the drop-in wickets they've been using. Traditionally it's the most seam-friendly pitch alongside Brisbane, and so Australia probably won't pick MacGill here either.
The SCG is normally the best wicket for spin in Australia, and it's also late in the season by the time the SCG test rolls around, so it's usually dry and will turn a lot, especially on the later days.
The above are all generalisations, and it's entirely possible that every wicket will be a road or that Adelaide will be a minefield or whatever. Now you know as much as me, though.
Traditionally, Brisbane favours swing bowling, particularly if it's overcast, and you can occasionally get really lethal wickets there. Fair to expect a bit of movement on the first morning and maybe even the whole first day, then it will flatten out. Warne also loves it because of the bounce, even though it's not really known as a turning pitch and Panesar probably won't get much help.
Adelaide is usually the flattest test wicket in Australia, excluding Bellrieve, and is very good for batting for a few days and will usually turn on days 4 and 5. Australia will almost certianly play two spinners.
Perth used to be the fast bowling heaven obviously, but the last few seasons it's been very flat and if anything favours spin more than pace. Huge scores there in the Pura Cup so far this season, so I'd expect an absolute road.
Melbourne was pretty seam-friendly last year so hopefully we'll get more of the same. It's pretty unpredictable these days though, given the drop-in wickets they've been using. Traditionally it's the most seam-friendly pitch alongside Brisbane, and so Australia probably won't pick MacGill here either.
The SCG is normally the best wicket for spin in Australia, and it's also late in the season by the time the SCG test rolls around, so it's usually dry and will turn a lot, especially on the later days.
The above are all generalisations, and it's entirely possible that every wicket will be a road or that Adelaide will be a minefield or whatever. Now you know as much as me, though.
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PhoenixFire
International Coach
Thanks for that one. Looks like a pretty good spread of wickets there, looks to be an interesting contest as far as the pitches are concerned. It's a shame there isn't any dangerous grassy, hard fliers though.
tooextracool
International Coach
Except when SA toured, the pitches are usually dead flat. People go on raving about how the GABBA has been seamer friendly for god knows how long, yet the only time it has ever offered anything for the bowlers in the last 5 years was for the last inning in the WI-Aus series. You can expect Sydney to be dead flat like it always is and maybe turn or sometimes disintegrate completely on the last day and you can expect the Aussies here to call that a turning nightmare. Id say Melbourne is the most sporting wicket in Australia and offers a bit more for all bowlers.PhoenixFire said:
As far as the claim that Australia has the most varied wickets in world cricket is concerned, thanks for the laugh, but I think English wickets generally have a lot more variation.
vic_orthdox
Global Moderator
Melbourne will probably be a bit different again to last year, as last year they just dropped in the wicket before the Boxing Day Test, while this year they'll be dropping in a whole square for all the FC season, so the preparation for the wicket will be quite different. Hopefully Tony Ware remembers to stop watering the pitch this year...
How Brisbane plays seems to depend quite a lot on the weather above. Sydney can be a bit the same, especially with the new ball (see a couple of FC games, and 1st innings Aus vs SA last year for evidence).
How Brisbane plays seems to depend quite a lot on the weather above. Sydney can be a bit the same, especially with the new ball (see a couple of FC games, and 1st innings Aus vs SA last year for evidence).