Justin Langer ‘fascinated’ by new Perth Stadium pitch ahead of second Test

The second Test between Australia and India starting on December 14 will be the first ever Test to be played at the new ground, which replaced the storied WACA.

Australia coach Justin Langer has expressed his excitement at the prospect of being part of the first Test at the new Perth Stadium.

The second Test between Australia and India starting on December 14 will be the first ever Test to be played at the new ground, which replaced the storied WACA.

Langer spent 17 years playing for his home state Western Australia, calling the WACA home for almost his entire career.

The ground was famous for its fast bowler friendly conditions, with the likes of Curtley Ambrose and Mitchell Johnson at different times taking full advantage of its carry and bounce to produce devastating performances.

^{The new Perth Stadium is set to host its first ever Test}

Langer is hopeful that the same performances can be had at the new ground.

“I'm really fascinated and can't wait to see what the [Perth] wicket brings," Langer remarked.

“I went and watched a bit of the game, New South Wales versus Western Australia. Certainly, some pace and bounce.”

The match Langer was referring to was also the maiden first-class match at the ground, in which WA fast bowler Jhye Richardson took 8-47, with neither side scoring over 300 runs in either innings.

^{Jhye Richardson took 8-47 in the maiden first-class match at the new stadium}

The new ground will use a drop-in wicket but head curator Brett Sipthorpe is confident that it will have the same characteristics as the old WACA.

“The mandate is for pace and bounce, and that's what I'll be attempting to achieve," he said.

“We'll have plenty of grass on it. I can't imagine it being great for spinners to be honest.

"A good spinner will take wickets, but it certainly won't be something that spinners will relish when they get here."

There is truth to Sipthorpe’s words regarding spinners too – in the match between WA and NSW, Nathan Lyon took 7-120 over the course of the match.

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