Unseasonable rain in Perth could mean the pitch for the Border-Gavaskar series opener against India becomes easier to bat on the longer the Test goes on.
Persistent showers on Tuesday forced Australia to cancel their afternoon training session, but it also heavily impacted the preparations of ground staff at Optus Stadium.
Despite having to adjust to the rainy conditions, WA Cricket head curator Isaac McDonald is comfortable with how the pitch would play.
Australia crushed Pakistan at Optus Stadium last September, skittling the tourists for 89 in their second innings as unpredictable bounce made batting a nightmare.
"I don't think the weather will make this pitch fall apart," McDonald said.
"There will be some deterioration, grass will stand up during the game and offer that variable bounce.
"In terms of those big snake WACA cracks, I don't think the weather will get us there.
"There will be some really good pace and bounce in the pitch, it will just be how well they look after the ball; 8-10 mms of grass sitting in that range."
McDonald said he would leave between eight and 10mm of grass on the pitch.
That estimation delighted star quick Josh Hazlewood, with Australia aiming to keep their perfect Test record at Optus Stadium intact.
Australia overcame India in the first Test at the ground when it opened back in 2018, beating New Zealand (2019), the West Indies (2022) and Pakistan (2023) since.
India's solitary Test win in Perth came at the WACA Ground back in 2008.
"I love playing in Perth," Hazlewood.
"The wicket is always a nice one to bowl pace, it's bouncy and a few cracks, potentially," Hazlewood said on Wednesday.
"I think the conditions suit us.
"We're probably more used to it with that bounce and pace."
