India gear up for the second Test in Perth with a 1-0 lead in the series. Virat Kohli‘s side put in an all-round performance to deny a spirited Australian team victory in the opening clash.

Almost all Indian batsmen and their pace attack put in a stupendous effort to win their first Test in the country in a decade.

The second Test in Perth is expected to be played on one of the quickest surfaces seen in Australia in recent times. With fast bowlers on both sides expected to wreak havoc, the work is cut out for both teams to grab the initiative.

Here are the key tactics for India as they look to go 2-0 up in the series.

CHANGE GUARD 

The extreme bounce means fast bowlers will struggle to get lbw decisions in their favour. All Australian fast bowlers are very tall, which means their deliveries are most likely to go over the stumps. Indian batsmen can take the off stump guard to get closer to the balls outside off stump or play on the on side with the knowledge that lbw decisions will be very difficult to be won. It can help batsmen like Ajinkya Rahane and even KL Rahul who tend to reach for balls bowled wide.

KEEP IT FULL

At Perth, it is even more imperative for the Indian fast bowlers to not get carried away by the extreme pace and carry that will be on offer. Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Ishant Sharma got Australia’s batsmen to nick behind to the wicketkeeper nine times on the slow surface of Adelaide. While the temptation will be there to go short as India got the wickets of Travis Head and Tim Paine with that strategy, the bouncer should remain a surprise weapon. Many pacers have been seduced by the pace at Perth and bowled all over the place.