Can you blame the pitch?

The WACA is back someone will say.

The pitch was green and Australia did collapse, that must mean something.

Unfortunately for Australians looking for excuses, the wicket had very little to do with it.

Yes the signs were good, it had nice pace, not scary WACA pace, and decent carry, not throat chomping bounce.

Plus Australia's top order did collapse.

There was some help with the new ball, not just from the pitch, but from the batsmen.

Hughes problem with the short ball is massively over rated, Hughes problem with form is quite obvious when he played a drive that Hilfenahaus would have been embarrassed by.

Ponting played against Arjuna Ranatunga at the WACA, so you'd think he knows it pretty well.  Turns out he still thinks angled bats are ok here.

Clarke could get bounced out by Alastair Cook in the second innings and he'd still be flinging his bat randomly at the ball looking like he is being chased by a bunch of scary looking flying robot snakes.

Watson's dismissal never touched the pitch.

Smith got a good delivery that left him, so he pushed at it like he was trying to send a rich elderly relative down a set of stairs.

The pitch was a bit quicker and bouncier than usual, as has been promised for years, and there was green grass on it, but I think the Australians had the ability to collapse on a far better batting pitch than this.

Didn't Siddle play nice drives on the up?

[image error]