It is de rigueur when you come to Perth that the pitch at the WACA becomes the cornerstone of conversation such is the unique nature of this wicket block. The Waroona black clay covered in the Tincurrin couch make the 66 square yards in the middle of the east Perth oval somewhat of an oddity as far as cricket surfaces go.
The preamble for the third Test has been slightly different in that the strip used for this match has been variously described by the groundsman and thence the media as "the fastest for some time" and "well grassed".
Given that the WACA is accepted as the fastest pitch in world cricket, it behoves expectations and raises intimidation to be talking up an already pacy offering. The square was relaid and realigned back in 1986 and the pitch has not recovered the white sheen and glassy top since: it was bloody quick in those days when men were men and Dennis Lillee delivered his wares.
Australia generally have an advantage when they play in Perth because of this distinctness (perhaps apart from when the West Indies are rampaging with their high-bouncing quicks). Indeed Western Australia have a tremendous home record because they know at which length to bowl and how many balls to leave alone.
Many visiting new-ball bowlers find the extra bounce so enticing that they rarely pitch up on a length, preferring to enjoy the sensation of the pill soaring shoulder-high to the keeper. It is a false sense of elation, much like a heroin addict might find in a quick fix, sensory but insubstantial. You must pitch up on a length on the Waca or risk expulsion to the boundary.
Steve Waugh must have been tuned into Richard Winter's spin doctoring, or pace doctoring, as he managed to talk the selectors into dropping the well-performed and honest Andy Bichel and reinstating the recently wayward, if blisteringly hot, Brett Lee. Bichel has a case for unfair dismissal given that he has been in a winning team, has taken some key wickets and also made the odd run, not that Australia need any more runs from the tail after the top seven have dipped their wick. But Lee is undoubtedly the better bowler when on song.
The tune had been a touch off-key during the Pakistan series and Lee had been relegated to the chorus line of Sheffield Shield cricket to discover some stronger voice. He found it with only a minor throat-clearing and demolished successively Tasmania and South Australia. The pace and the accuracy had returned thanks to a minor technical correction. A higher, and level head through the power stroke has returned direction while maintaining speed.
Steve Waugh likes him in his XI. Lee intimidates and he can bowl much faster than Bichel. If England needed more bad news to compound their own problems, it would have been the thought of Lee, on the "fastest pitch for some time", charging in downwind from the River End.
Lee bowled with admirable precision at about Warp 7 to justify Steve Waugh's support and the selectors' agony. His attack on Harmison and Tudor reeked of malice. He bowled few bad deliveries and his figures were not overly flattering because of attacking field settings that at times included four slips and two gullies, with a short leg tacked on just in case the bouncer struck a glove.
Adam Gilchrist spent much of the day emulating Australian Rules footballers taking catches above their heads as the ball rocketed through; his hands would have appreciated the ice bath at the close.
Australia have dominated the first two Tests but they chose to change the team in search of greater strength. Lee can be happy with his return to Tests on a pitch that is made to measure for him. England wilted under the blowtorch when they batted and banged the ball in far too short when they bowled. Harmison, Tudor and Silverwood need to look at Lee and reassess.
- GEOFF LAWSON