Pitching it up: Sinhalese Sporting Club, Colombo

Ben Roberts

 

Peter Siddle is as lionhearted a competitor as you are likely to meet in cricket. It is unlikely that a thought toward another test as the drinks carrier really could really inspire a player like Siddle, but the surface at the SSC could potentially drive him to rue his replacement of the injured Ryan Harris in the team.

 

The surfaces in the first two tests were incredibly lively compared with the reputation preceding the grounds. Of course the first test match's pitch was later deemed below standard by the ICC. The pitch at the SSC is renowned as being overtly favourable to the batsman. Flat, hard and dry, with the only threat it dusting up later in the test. By which time both sides may have batted the game out of reach for each other.

 

The last test at the ground pitted the hosts against India in July 2010 where Sri Lanka ran up a total of 642 for 4 declared (three centurions, one a double, and two half centurions) before India, needing to win the test to level the series, replied with 707 (two centurions, and three half centurions) all out on the fourth day. Little time remained on such a wicket to force a result, and clearly neither side appeared that interested in one either.

 

Sinhalese Sports Club, Colombo: courtesy: flickr.com

 

The Australians played in a high scoring affair againstSri Lanka in 2004. Both teams recorded just over 400 all out on the first innings before Australians ran up 375 in the second innings. On top of their game at the time the fast scoring rate of the tourists left them with over a day to bowl at the hosts, which they duly did to great success. The combination Shane Warne and a brittle temperament that haunted Sri Lankan batsman too often saw the Australians win.

 

The ground is the headquarters for the Sri Lankan national cricket authorities, therefore one down in the series and with those in power looking on you would like to think the Sri Lankans will push for a result. Whichever team wins the toss will bat first and stand the better chance of setting the match up for a win. All bowlers will need to be patient, and captains wise in their use. With an aggressive player like Siddle, Michael Clarke will need to be aware the moment his frustration results in even slightly poorer bowling.

Note to Phil Hughes. This may be the best chance you get to shut up all of us fast losing patience with your inability to do the job at the top of the order, particularly as we know one S Katich would thrive in these conditions. Do not waste it.

Pitching it up:Muttiah Muralitharan International Stadium (Pallekele)

by Balanced Sports' columnist Ben Roberts

Can you imagine the heart ache as the relevant cricketing administrators sat down and tried to decide what they would name the new cricket stadium in Kandy? Potentially to name it after the bowler who by far and away leads the cricketing world in bowling statistics was the easiest decision anyone has ever made!

The stadium at Pallekele is only two years old and has only held one test thus far in its history. Its building was as a replacement for the formerly used Asigiriya Stadium in Kandy, and was in time for use at the 2011 World Cup. It was welcomed into the fold of this tournament by Ross Taylor of New Zealand, who in the stadiums first match of the tournament stroked a brilliant 131 not out off 124 balls, with 55 runs from his final 13 balls faced. Taylor earned for his efforts from the New Zealand commentary team the nickname 'The Pallekele Plunderer' (just a great name when said with a kiwi accent!).

courtesy: imagegossips.com

The only test match to have been hosted at the stadium was ruined by rain, with only the West Indian opponents of Sri Lanka able to bat. The cricketing world lost any ability to judge how the surface would play as the rain fell, but further that the West Indians, content to draw the series, elected to face over 100 overs in scoring 300 for 8. Kumar Sangakarra later described this as the worst test series he had been involved with.

We have little to go on therefore as we assess the relevant merits of the conditions in Kandy when Australia visits for the stadiums second test. The primarily limited over pedigree of the stadium points toward a flat wicket, with plenty of runs. In the test between Sri Lanka and the West Indies the spinners outperformed the paceman easily by bowling tight, and we can expect this to be the plan of both sides based on the first test at Galle.

The moist atmosphere of the oft rained on southern Sri Lankan city has proved a challenge for pitch preparation, and may give those quicker bowlers moving the ball in the air, just kissing the surface, some hope. Again it will be expected of the batsmen that they exert some self control and patience, batting first again will most likely be the way to go in setting the game up.

Pitching it up: Galle International Stadium

by Balanced Sports columnist Ben Roberts

The three Test series begins in the south west of the island nation on a strip of land heading south into the Indian Ocean. Such location is described as being immensely picturesque however it was also immensely vulnerable on Boxing Day 2004 when the Tsunami devastated the area. The ground undertook a large reconstruction thanks to the large international cricket community, fearful it would be lost forever.

courtesy: goldsilveralert.com

The ground was first built in 1876, however it was not until 1998 when it received its first Test match. In all 17 matches have been played on the ground, with nine wins for the Sri Lankans, coupled with three Losses and five draws. The pitch is typical sub-continent accepting spin and asking for patient batting against it. As you would expect Muttiah Muralidaran is the most successful bowler with 111 wickets on the ground in 15 matches, daylight is second.

Australia and Sri Lanka have clashed twice at Galle. A rain affected draw was the 1999 matches result, but there was time enough for Shane Warne and Murali to take three and five wickets respectively. For Australia both Glenn McGrath and Damien Fleming bowled well, indicating that because of the breeze coming off the ocean on three sides of the ground as well as being closer to sea level patience and skill could be valuable for the quicker bowlers also.

In 2004 Australia won by 197 runs, but not before Murali had tied them in knots, taking 11 wickets. Australia fought back from a 161-run first innings deficit with patient centuries from Matthew Hayden, Damien Martyn, and Darren Lehmann (his first in Test cricket). So conservative were the usually swashbuckling Australians that these three recorded strike rates in these innings of 61, 34, and 60 runs per 100 balls, well down on what was usual. Warne took 5 wickets in each innings and Stuart MacGill 4 in the second as Sri Lanka was bowled out.

Given the nature of the current Australian side they are unlikely to go into the match with more than one spinner – a decision to be made between Nathan Lyon and Michael Beer. My favourite, Peter Siddle, will likely miss this one out as it is not a pitch that will respond to being attacked well short of a length as is his want. Bolter Trent Copeland of NSW appears likely to get a game after his five wickets in the lead up match and his more patient approach being more of a plus in teaming up with Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris.

Whatever the eventual line up will be for both sides (remember Sri Lanka are yet to find a suitable replacement for Murali) whoever wins the toss stands the greatest chance of success. Bat first, be patient, run up a total before being disciplined in the field against an opposition weary from their own fielding endeavours.

Pitching it up: The SCG

Perhaps the rot set in for Ricky Ponting's captaincy 12 months ago when against Pakistan at the SCG he elected to bat first in overcast conditions and on a damp seaming pitch. Despite Australia's astonishing victory in the match, Ponting's decision still condemned Australia to be all out for 127 on the first day. Now seemingly more infamous than otherwise, Mohammad Asif was the main wicket taker for Pakistan in that innings with 6. With the Ashes emphatically retained by England in Melbourne, and eastern Australian meteorologists going on stress leave due to the eccentricities of the weather, should Ponting make it to and win the toss in Sydney, the pressure on his decision will be immense.

The SCG is famed for being favourable to spinners but this has not always been its only attraction. The SCG was home to one of Australia's post war great fast bowlers, Alan Davidson, in the 1950s and 1960s. Davidson took 27 wickets in 6 tests at Sydney at an average of 20.70. The pitch developed its reputation as a slow turner throughout the 1980s as Australia sought to combat the barrage of express pace coming primarily from the West Indian team. Annually Sydney managed to be a refuge for weary Australian teams, and a chance for lesser known cricketers to perform.

From 1980 until their breakthrough in the 1989 Ashes series, Australia did not lose a test match at the SCG, despite the weaker nature of many of the teams. Post the retirement of Greg Chappell, Rod Marsh and Dennis Lillee in early 1984, Australia lost series to England, New Zealand and the West Indies (twice). However on all occasions they won the Sydney test thanks to little known slow bowlers. The well aged Bob Holland (10 wickets against both the West Indies in 1984 and New Zealand in 1985), the very part time Allan Border (11 wickets against the West Indies in 1989), and the randomly selected Peter Taylor coupled with the usually innocuous Peter Sleep (7 and 5 wickets respectively against England in 1987) are not legendary names in spin bowling .

Surprisingly, Shane Warne's SCG record is weaker when compared to his phenomenal overall record. 4.57 wickets per test at 28.12 with a strike rate of 63.4 is laudable; but despite the SCG's reputation these statistics are poorer than his career record (4.88 at 25.41, strike rate of 57.4). The eternally second string spinner of the Warne era, Stuart MacGill, can probably only be adequately compared against Warne based upon their respective SCG records. In MacGill's 8 tests at the ground (5 with Warne in the XI also) he collected a remarkable 6.63 wickets per test at an average of 24.47 with a strike rate of 47.3. MacGill will be recorded by history as a very talented, yet more so a desperately unlucky cricketer.

There is symmetry between the current struggles of the Australian team and that of the teams that were humiliated regularly during the 1980s. Unfortunately there is no symmetry between the SCG pitch of that era and of today. While it won't be unplayable, expect to see the ball moving off the seam, complementing the expected overcast conditions that will allow for swing. The pitch will still ultimately break up and take spin on days four and five of the test.

England has no real need to make changes, but the 'team first' attitude of both Andy Flower and Andrew Strauss may still mean changes occur. Should no changes be made, Ajmal Shazad and Monty Panesar will be victims of the strong team performances by the English and will continue to sit out alongside Steve Finn, the leading wicket taker in the first three tests. The English, if faced with conditions and a pitch showing the slightest inference of assisting the pacemen, will most probably elect to bowl first at the struggling Australian batsmen.

Australia will no doubt replace the injured Ryan Harris with a spinner. Based upon the recent spin bowling policy of the Australian selectors, speculation on who will fill this position is futile. The Australians, trying desperately to regain some morsel of respect and level the series, are caught between a rock and a hard place should they win the toss. Should they bat first they risk being humbled in similar fashion to the test against Pakistan 12 months ago and the recent MCG test. Electing to bowl first may give the pacemen a chance in conducive conditions however will require that they face up to Graeme Swann in the fourth innings on days four and five.

Pitching it up: A commentary

Matthew Wood investigates how much the pitch actually makes a difference.

As play during the Third Test match at the WACA ground showed, the character and life of a pitch is essential to the type of cricket that it produces. Long renowned as one of the fastest and bounciest pitches in the world, over the past decade or so the strip in Perth lost a lot of the speed that made it famous. Changes in the type of grass and the drainage system employed meant that suddenly the vicious fast-bowling paradise of yesteryear became an easier proposition for batsmen to take on and score runs.

In similar circumstances, Sydney's strip still holds it's name as a "turner" yet in recent Tests has become more bland as batsmen have increasingly controlled proceedings. The ground still "takes spin", but not to the same extent as during the 1980s where fair-to-middling spinners Bob Holland, Peter Taylor, Peter Sleep and, famously, Allan Border were able to bowl Australia to victory.

First under Dennis Lillee's control and now under fellow Test player Graeme Wood, the WACA has recently sought to rediscover its own pacy nature, sometimes at the expense of a full five days of cricket. The Third Ashes Test ended inside four days, meaning that the WACA itself was deprived of at least one day's attendance money, a sacrifice they seem prepared to make to ensure that the Perth strip maintains its reputation as a pitch that bowlers would like to carry around with them.

But the Perth Test's pacy strip didn't preclude performances; it's just that both batsmen and bowlers had to play well to get results. Hussey's technique was exemplary during his two innings and there's no coincidence that the guy with (probably) England's best technique, Ian Bell, was the pick of their batsmen. The bowlers who got rewards bowled to wont of the pitch and not to how they thought they should bowl.

As cricket increasingly becomes a business and revenue is all-important, making a Test match carry on for the full five days has become paramount to filling the pockets of state cricket associations. That, combined both with drop-in pitches and a subcontinentally-led trend towards One-Day strips favouring batsmen means since the mid-1990s each pitch in Australia has become more bland and, to a certain extent, lost their individuality.

The ideal pitch was always said to produce a result on the afternoon of the fifth day of a Test. That way, it ensured there was something in it early for the quick bowlers and something in it late for the spinners. Perhaps it's time to dismiss the notion that crowds and administrators get their money's worth by how long a match endures. Surely the quality of match ensures value for money, not the quantity?

In proof, The best One-Day match I have attended was in 1992 when the Australians defended 199 against a West Indies side at the tail end of their greatness. The pitch, the players and the situation made for great cricket, not the fact that the match went the distance. The match, in Melbourne, went to fifty overs per side but ended only just after 9.30pm.

Once Cricket Australia acknowledge that we watch cricket for astounding feats and just to kill three, eight or forty hours, then pitches the country over will hopefully begin to regain their own unique natures and we'll again have the greatest variety in the world of pitches. Also, Australia as a team would be so much the stronger because players in domestic competitions will have matured playing on different types of wickets and not the same uniform tracks which encourage a good eye rather than a good technique.

The WACA, an association faced with bankruptcy only a matter of years ago, has made the conscious decision to ensure the pitches they prepare are different and true to the form that's been the case in Perth over forty years of Test cricket. By being prepared to make the choice of identity over profit, they will in time benefit firstly as the Warriors develop a home-ground advantage that no other state can match, and also as fans flock to matches because a pitch that demands perfect technique will produce performances of the highest quality. I'd take three days of magnificent all-around cricket instead of five days of batting on a flat deck any day: we watch sport for the challenge as well as the result and the WACA, by remaining true to what it believes, has invigorated this Ashes series.

Pitching it up: The MCG

by Balanced Sports columnist Ben Roberts

With the series now square it is fait accompli that the Australian and English cricketers will be met by an 80,000 strong MCG crowd. The enormity of the occasion will hopefully be matched by a stirring contest. The MCG pitch however is unlikely to become too excited about the occasion.

Players from both sides may be in shock shifting from the fast, green and bouncy WACA pitch to the MCG that two weeks ago appeared lifeless and dull. Between the England XI and Victoria, no amount of generous declarations, or charitable bowling from Andrew Strauss could manufacture a result. The MCG wicket gives very little easily to either batsmen or bowler, calling upon them to play cricket with great concentration.

The slower and more benign nature of the MCG pitch is a relatively new phenomenon due in no small part to the use of drop in pitches. With greater usage of the ground by Australian football it became difficult for the ground team to prepare reasonable pitches for the cricket season and thus they turned to drop in pitches, maintained off site during the winter months.

After the Second World War the MCG pitch was known for being full of life. In fact an MCG 'sticky wicket' was thought of as being a fate worse than a Gabba 'sticky' for a batsman. Centuries on this pitch in the decades post the war were highly regarded.

In 1990 Bruce Reid took 13 wickets against Graham Gooch's English tourists. Reasons for this match being won and lost provide insight into playing on the MCG pitch. Reid bowled consistent line and length and waited for loose shots. The English batsmen, despite having led on the first innings, showed no concentration in the second innings and collapsed. Geoff Marsh and David Boon then mustered their powers of concentration, batting for 5 hours on the last day to score just 169 required for victory.

England more than likely will select Tim Bresnan over Steve Finn for the MCG test. James Anderson has performed well in all tests so far and Chris Tremlett was by far England's best at Perth. Both have natural assets that, used consistently, should succeed at the MCG. Bresnan will provide extra brawn to the attack and energy when nothing is happening. As well, he provides lower order batting that was missing in Perth.

Both Mitchell Johnson and Ryan Harris will be assured of selection. In addition, it is assumed that on the MCG pitch a spinner will provide balance to the attack. No doubt Ben Hilfenhaus bowled very well in Perth without great reward; but since a selection must be made my opinion is that Peter Siddle is the better option for the MCG wicket.

Harris showed in his performance at Perth that he is a wise craftsman. He had great control of both swing and seam in dismissing the English batsmen. Should Hilfenhaus, also a craftsman, be selected Harris may be forced to bowl with more aggression than craft, limiting his effect. On a lifeless MCG pitch Australia will need aggression as well as swing and seam. With Harris and Johnson the in form bowlers, Siddle becomes a better option for a truly balanced attack.

Excluding Michael Hussey and Shane Watson, batsmen from both teams failed to display much concentration during all four innings at Perth. Ricky Ponting has succeeded on Boxing Day before, and he and other struggling batsmen, Michael Clarke, Paul Collingwood, and Phil Hughes should take note of the innings' that Marsh and Boon played 20 years ago.

Pitching it up: The WACA

Ben Roberts of World Cricket Watch and Balanced Sports inspects the pitch at the WACA prior to the 3rd test.

When Mike Gatting won the toss and elected to bat in the second test of the 1986-87 Ashes series it was the first time that any captain had elected to bat first on the WACA pitch in 10 test matches. In fact, prior to this match from the 13 previous tests, only twice had the captain winning the toss elected to bat.

The pitch at the WACA is renowned as being one of the fastest and bounciest in the cricketing world. In conjunction with the pitch characteristics, the ‘Fremantle Doctor’ blows in off the Indian ocean during the afternoon, assisting bowlers looking to move the ball through the air.

Despite these attractions the WACA can breed a false sense of confidence within a fired up fast bowler. The highlights reel of the ‘Master Blaster’ Vivian Richards pasting the Australian attack all over the WACA in 1988 is a definite lesson to all bowlers that you can bowl too short on this pitch. Richards stroked a dominant 146 off only 150 balls, playing across the line with ease to anything short.

Bowlers allowing the conditions to complement their natural talents and attributes will succeed at the WACA. There is no need to force the pace. The Ashes test of 1986 saw success for Bruce Reid and Graham Dilley, both of whom were blessed with tremendous height and natural bowling actions. The metronomic Glenn McGrath is the leading wicket taker at the ground, and Western Australian fast bowler Jo Angel never appeared over-exerted in taking many WACA wickets throughout his first-class career.

More recent history at the WACA has seen the captain that wins the toss electing to bat more often. This perhaps is more a reflection of the Australian dominance and attacking psyche, but also could be influenced by the generally more sedate pitch preparation. The need for Australia to push for victory, combined with England’s fast bowling stocks, may render the toss irrelevant. Both sides are likely to elect that Australia should bat first.

With Stuart Broad now injured, and based on players who have been successful at the WACA, the English should strongly consider selecting Chris Tremlett. His 201cm height and ease through the crease appears a match made in heaven with the WACA pitch. Tremlett complementing Graeme Swann, Stephen Finn and James Anderson would still be a potentially dominant attack. This assumes Tremlett will be selected; Tim Bresnan and Ajmal Shazad are still in the touring party also. It’s a palatable problem to have for the tourists.

The options for Australia are less palatable. Bollinger, Siddle, Johnson and Harris are all attacking bowlers who enjoy pitching the ball short of a length; none seeming a great match for the WACA pitch. If the selectors had remained willing to make changes to the bowling lineup, a recent 9 wicket haul against Tasmania and an imposing 203cm height might have meant the South Australian Peter George could have been a worthy selection.

The English enter the Perth test with the better matched bowling attack for the conditions and a top-order in form. The best plan for the Australians will be for the thus far faltering top order to put scoreboard pressure on the English with a large first innings total.

Pitching it up: Adelaide Oval

by Balanced Sports columnist Ben Roberts.

The theory goes that South Australia's unorthodox yet supremely effective left-handed batsman Darren Lehmann would have played more for Australia, except that he played his first-class cricket on the Adelaide Oval. Lehmann throughout the 1990's was a batting colossus of the Australian domestic scene, yet waited until 1998 to make his Test match debut. Adelaide Oval is known (Lehmann may say 'tainted') as a batsman's paradise.

Adelaide's hot and dry weather provides challenge to the ground team to produce a pitch that is anything but rock hard in the summer months. Recent history has scheduled the Test match in early to mid December, away from the searing heat of late January. But early December in Adelaide is hot and dry enough.

The English may have had fond memories of the Adelaide Oval in 2006, if it wasn't for one Shane Warne. Seemingly to date, no Australian pitch can escape being defined at least in part by him. It takes a special bowler to not just succeed but dominate on the Adelaide pitch.

Wisden describes a match that went 4 days and 43 minutes toward a draw dominated by batsmen. Collingwood and Pieterson (206 & 158) for England, then Ponting and Clarke (142 & 124) for Australia, enjoyed the conditions to the full. England looked like batting out the final day to the draw until Warne stepped up and turned the match. He only took 4 wickets but created so much doubt in his 32 overs for 49 runs, the English batsman crumbled either to him or others eventually. Australia winning by 6 wickets with 19 balls to spare.

In a match that both batting line ups will be looking toward with anticipation, Graeme Swann looks the wildcard. From both sides Swann is the only slow bowler who has form for dominating batsmen. Spinners in general will be key; the expectation on them will be to bowl extensive and tight overs giving the pacemen a decent rest in the heat while carrying the attack to the batsmen.

Attacking batsmen Pieterson and Ponting may be worth watching. Pieterson will have fond memories of Adelaide in 2006, and Ponting has the greatest number of test centuries and highest total runs at Adelaide in test match history. English or Australian batsman under pressure should heed the warning that in such a friendly environment they will be expected to succeed. Should they fail, selection in the remainder of the series will not be guaranteed.

Australian batting failure may have Chairman of Selectors Andrew Hilditch dreaming of a left-handed South Australian who regularly put bowlers to the sword on the Adelaide Oval.

Pitching it up: The Gabba

by Ben Roberts, Balanced Sports columnist.

The Gabba's traditional role as host to the first test of the Australian summer reflects the desire to avoid scheduling matches in the south-eastern states while they struggle to exit winter conditions, even in late November. The Brisbane climate however is by no means smooth sailing for cricketers. The humid sub-tropical conditions provide risk of serious thunderstorm at its extreme and a pitch that has been known for its treachery in the past.

The potential for chaotic cricket at the Gabba can be defined by the Ashes test of 1950, a match that Wisden was led to describe as one that was 'won and lost at the toss'. The villainous pitch, according to Wisden, was the reason for the galling defeat of England who they believe were the better performed side.

Australia's captain Lindsay Hassett won the toss a elected to bat in what were the best conditions of the match. Australia however did not excel and was bowled out for a disappointing 228. The tropics then entered and sent a thunderstorm creating a minefield of the uncovered pitch. The Englishman were instructed by their captain Freddie Brown to attack lest they remain batting too long before getting a chance at the Australians on this now treacherous pitch.

The English declared their innings closed at 68 for 7, and proceeded to rout the Australian batsmen, Hassett ultimately calling time with Australia 32 for 7 in their second innings. England required 193 in their second innings for victory, and the pitch while improving, remained difficult. England's second innings closed at 122 giving Australia victory by 60 runs. Leonard Hutton was the only batsman to succeed from both sides in passing 50, his 62 not out in the second innings nearly brought victory for the English.

The modern techniques and objectives of pitch preparation, including heavily covered pitches, mean that test matches similar to the 1950 Ashes test stand little chance of being repeated. The humid climate of Brisbane still causes the pitch to sweat while covered which can create some difficulties.

Shane Warne described the Gabba as one of his favourite grounds, and he had tremendous success on the pitch. Warne however was an attacking spinner and took risks with his bowling. Graeme Swann for England will likely play and his attacking style could net him wickets. Australia does not have a counter for Swann with omitted Australian spinner Nathan Hauritz relying more on subtle variation then on outright attack in taking wickets. The inexperience of Xavier Doherty and Steve Smith may also mean that they will bowl with more caution.

The pitch is renowned for being friendly to bowlers looking to hit the seam. It presents probably the best opportunity for Australia's pacemen to out-perform the English who are more akin to using swinging conditions. Shane Watson could be a factor in the test for Australia, keeping the seam straight, as complement to the strike bowlers. Likewise if the Gabba decides to play up Paul Collingwood for England could prove a useful part time option.

Pitching it up: Bellerive Oval

by Balanced Sports columnist Ben Roberts

Granted the 2010-11 Ashes series will not in part be fought out on the pitch at Bellerive. We will however later this week see the the touring English XI take on Australia 'A', where a considerable number test hopefuls for both teams will seek to hold the selectors attention prior to the first test.

Bellerive is very much a forgotten ground by mainland Australian cricket followers. Whereas the general pitch characteristics of the mainland test venues may roll of the tongue from even spasmodic cricket fans, I must admit that when thinking of Bellerive I had to shrug my shoulders. Test cricket has only graced Bellerive since 1989, and since then only nine test matches have been played in total.

A cousin of mine works as part of the ground team at Bellerive so I had a good source to whom I could inquire for information on this pitch. Three main inputs provide a unique challenge for the ground team at Bellerive. Firstly, the use of rye rather than couch grass means that the pitch has to be carefully monitored as it will dry out quickly, the leaf will be left as long as possible that gives a bit for the bowlers. Secondly, adding to the challenge of keeping the pitch moist is the potential for brutal winds that will zap the moisture out at fast rate. Finally, the clay in the soil doesn't break up with use so there is generally less opportunity for spinners. This is of course unless your name is 'Shane' or 'Murali'.

Given the option, pacemen from both sides will be hoping that in the lead up to the match there is some moisture around and come the match day they are provided with still overcast conditions. A lack of moisture and stronger wind will threaten to flatten the pitch out early and gift batsman easy runs. The tests played of recent history have been characterised by big scores, this of course may also be reflective of Australia's dominance in the past 20 years and the generally weaker touring teams drawn to play against Australia at Bellerive.

Australia's finest moment at Bellerive was the 4 wicket win over Pakistan in 1999. Australia, facing a three pronged pace attack of Akram, Younis and Akhtar, recovered from being 126 for 5 to post the third highest fourth innings total of 369 for 6 and claim victory. Adam Gilchrist announced his entry into test match cricket by posting his maiden century in his second match sharing the match winning partnership with Justin Langer. On that day Pakistan’s lethal fast bowling trio toiled joylessly on a wicket that had dried throughout the match.

With the above in mind, look for England to perhaps rest its test bowling line up, aware that if conditions are not right they may toil as Pakistan did 11 years ago and stunt momentum before the first test. Australia 'A' includes genuine test prospects Khwaja and Ferguson in its batting order who will want to use the favourable conditions to really cement their places as the next in line for a test call up.