The Australian test summer had kicked off with Pakistan touring Australia for three test matches, also part of the World Test Championship 2023-25 cycle at Perth Stadium. Marketed as the 'West Test' in which I cringe every time I hear, think, read, or type out that moniker, so from now on in this article I will definitely be avoiding typing that in this article that is always Pulitzer award-winning. Pakistan will be touring Perth for the first test, then to Melbourne for the boxing day test match and then finally in the first week of January in Sydney for the third and final test before leaving Australian shores for New Zealand and their T20 matches.
It was a lovely day in Perth, an ideal day for cricket with the sun out and a few clouds that would roll on by with a gentle breeze, but not enough to cool down as it was a rather warmish day. Australia had won the toss and elected to bat first, a wise decision as the day would be more in Australia's possession with Pakistan causing some worries during the game, but not enough to wrestle Australia's dominance.
Warner and Khawaja batted well and had placed a 50-run stand before the pair made it 126 before the first wicket fell. Khawaja and Warner were batting really well and it looked like the two were on course to make it to 200 for no loss but the experience of Shaheen Shah Afridi undid Khawaja and broke the deadlock. Labuschagne pushed the score further along but he did not last long and fell at 159 for 16. It looked like Pakistan may have started to wrestle the game back into their favour with two wickets falling in rather close and quick succession.
Steve Smith came to the crease and it certainly looked that a more determined and resolved former captain was working hard to rectify his recent form slump and working towards building a partnership with Warner who was really starting to see the ball like it was rather beachball like and punishing the Pakistan bowling attack making them look rather pedestrian at times. It did seem that the Pakistan bowlers seemed to be not quite at their best and seemed slightly off their usual pace. That is something for the players and their coaching staff to try and rectify because at times it just seemed that they were just struggling to get going and assert any dominance with their quicker bowlers. However, an error by Smith resulted in a tickle to the keeper and a wasted review with Smith departing for a disappointing 31 and Australia at 3 for 238.
Travis Head crashed his way to a fleeting 40 and with Warner's aggressive batting approach had really taken the game to Pakistan to unnerve them, making them look unsettled and unable to find a groove and rhythm to reapply pressure back onto the Australians. It was not long after Head's departure that Warner's innings had finally come to a close with the troubled opener being caught off the bowling of Pakistan's debutant Aamer Jamal for 164 with Alex Carey and Mitchell Marsh at the crease both in their teens to build onto the total for day two. Play ended on day one with Australia being 5 for 346.
Australia ended the opening day strong with a few wickets to fall giving Pakistan some sniff that it could swing their way. However, Australia had established themselves to head into day two with two quality batsmen needing to look to add another 100 possibly 150 onto the total to post a challenging first innings to have the visitors chase.
Now it is time for the food. The food and drink choices at Perth stadium are not bad, the only issue with them, like it has always been, are the prices. With the ridiculous events that have been transpiring all around the world over the past three years have placed immense pressure upon all industries, with food and beverage being no different. So, I avoided buying food unless I was genuinely hungry and while it was a rather warmish day, I did not want to go too over the top and spend too much money. Though bottles of Pepsi were 6 dollars, water 5 dollars and cans of Bulleit bourbon being 13.90. Full strength but highly expensive unfortunately. The Texas pulled pork roll was rather nice but for 13.20 it is a bit on the steep side. It should be around at the 10-12 dollar mark in my opinion.
It was then followed up with some classic magnum ice-creams and they were 6.4 each. I expect that for magnums, but they are the slightly smaller sized versions of themselves and perhaps the price is too much accordingly. Though it was the classic chocolate with vanilla ice-cream and went down a treat despite the smaller size and higher price.
All in all, it was another good day of test cricket viewing in Perth. I did not comment on the crowds as that is an entirely different topic of discussion that perhaps I will write a separate opinion piece article on when I have the time. But I think that I will leave it to the numerous journalists that are clanking away with their articles on more prevalent cricket outlets. The stadium is an excellent facility with comfortable seating with shade that covers the vast majority of spectators and with sufficient airflow that gently rolls through for their comfort. The sun at around 5-5.30 in the late afternoon causes a bit of grief but besides that it is a nice place to watch cricket. Though the genuine and true wicket of the WACA will never be surpassed by this drop-in wicket that tries to replicate it. Looking forward to watching another test match in Perth for next summer, though I am feeling nostalgic and missing the days where after the test match, the World Series would roll on through and be an entertaining series of Australian cricket.
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