Heeding the lessons of a chaotic 17-wicket opening day last year, WACA curator Isaac McDonald has tweaked his preparation for the first Ashes Test at Perth Stadium.
Australia's quicks, then India star Jasprit Bumrah, ran riot in a bowler-friendly start to the 2024-25 Border-Gavaskar Trophy battle.
But by the end of day two, the pitch was suiting batsmen as India piled on runs to set up a commanding 295-run win.
The traditional pace and bounce of WA Tests will still be present, but it would be a shock to see so many wickets tumble on Friday.
"The curator, no matter what the outcome of the game, always reflects," McDonald said on Wednesday.
"On reflection there, maybe I was a day late on the prep.
"We've knuckled down, and we've started a day early to ensure that firmness is there, and the characteristics of our WACA pitch - pace and bounce - are going to be more than prominent."
McDonald will leave it late to decide how much grass he leaves on the pitch, but expects it to be between eight and 10mm like previous years.
He shut down suggestions from former England captain Michael Vaughan that Australia would pressure McDonald to prepare a spin-friendly pitch to suit Nathan Lyon.
Australia are missing Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood due to injury, while England are considering unleashing express quicks Jofra Archer and Mark Wood together.
"There has been absolutely no directives from anyone ever ... that just doesn't happen," McDonald said.
"Low and slow? I think it's just not possible.
"The West Test is pace and bounce, and that's what we're going to stick to."
The only member of Australia's big three who will play, Mitchell Starc, remarked he had played on five different Test pitches at Perth Stadium.
Due to COVID-19 border restrictions, Perth's Ashes Test in 2021-22 was moved to Hobart.
The last Ashes match played in Perth was the farewell to the nearby WACA Ground back in 2017.
"We have had a flat wicket, a pretty slow, flat wicket," Starc said of Perth Stadium.
"The first Test here was one where it cracked up and played a bit like the WACA used to.
"Last year, we saw the wickets in the first day and then it got pretty flat.
"So you can look at trends and you can look at what's happened, but in the end, you have got to play what's in front of you and adapt to that."
