Spin could be king in Perth Test as Waca hits speed limit

Australia and England may need to alter their bowling strategies for the third Ashes Test in December after a change in the traditional pitch conditions at Perth's Western Australia Cricket Ground. The Waca has long been renowned as one of the game's most intimidating surfaces because of its bounce and pace but its reputation is fading fast two matches into the Australian Pura Cup season.

More than 2,000 runs have been hit and 26 wickets taken in six days this campaign, including Western Australia's 608 for 3 declared in their first match against Victoria last week. Half of the wickets taken have been to spin with the quicks struggling on the flat surface. Australia and England will, therefore, be considering playing two spinners.

Australia's opener Justin Langer has been playing at the Waca this week for Western Australia, and expressed his disappointment. "You don't like to see any wicket be biased towards batters or bowlers," Langer said. "At the moment it's probably too biased for batsmen." Langer feels two spinners may be the way to go during the Ashes. "Because it's such a flat wicket it doesn't tend to swing all that much," he said. "It doesn't swing much and it doesn't seam much."