Pacy Mitchell Starc should enjoy Perth Stadium pitch

Second Test
BT Sport 1, 2.20am Friday

India claimed a 31-run victory over Australia in a compelling first Test in Adelaide and bookmakers expect another tight contest when the Perth Stadium hosts its inaugural Test match.

Australia have lost both ODIs played at the new ground but they are hoping to test India's batsmen on a pacy pitch in the tradition of the city's famous old venue, the Waca.

Cheteshwar Pujara's innings of 123 and 71 proved decisive in Adelaide, where only three other players in the match passed 50, but India's four-man bowling attack was also hugely impressive.

The Aussies have been backed into narrow favouritism with most bookmakers, with the draw as big as 13-2, and the new Perth venue could bring out the best in home paceman Mitchell Starc.

The left-armer hasn't been on top form in Test cricket recently but he still picked up five wickets in the first match of the series.

Australia skipper Tim Paine knows he can turn to Starc to finish off the tail and the potential for cheap scalps at the end of the innings makes him a tempting price at 5-2 to be Australia's top first-innings wicket-taker.

Pujara is 7-2 to top-score again for India but visiting captain Virat Kohli will be determined to improve on scores of three and 34 in the first Test. Kohli, who fell to a brilliant Usman Khawaja catch in the first innings in Adelaide, has made five centuries in nine Test matches in Australia.

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2pts 5-2 Hills, Sky Bet

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