There is no denying that the bounce on the Perth pitch is deadly. The pitch at the Western Australia Cricket Association (WACA) ground has caused problems for batsmen for decades. Mark Stoneman got a taste of Perth’s bounce on the first ball of the 32nd over of the first innings. Josh Hazlewood came around the wicket to Stoneman and bowled a short delivery directed towards his body. The left-handed batsman could not get out of the way as the ball struck his helmet.
The ball broke the helmet’s grills, something similar to what happened in the first two Tests when Nathan Lyon and Joe Root were struck by a bouncer.
Here’s the video of the fierce bouncer –
That’s nasty! #Ashes pic.twitter.com/TDqlKIlIvs
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 14, 2017
Here’s another bouncer Stoneman survived –
No thanks.#Ashes pic.twitter.com/xgyfM1YxQz
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) December 14, 2017
ALSO READ: Mitchell Starc’s bouncer breaks Joe Root’s helmet, Australian players rush to help him — WATCH
Stoneman survived Hazlewood’s fiery spell. The English opener was dropped in the previous over by Mitchell Marsh in the first slip. The 30-year-old got a second chance the next time he was struck on the helmet. The second one was a half-chance for Lyon who was standing in the point position. Lyon took a dive but could not get hold of the ball completely.
Stoneman scored his third Test fifty, though he could score only 56 runs from 110 balls with the help of 10 boundaries. Starc bowled a bouncer to him which he edged to wicketkeeper Tim Paine. Australian skipper opted for DRS and third umpire Aleem Dar overturned umpire Marais Erasumus’ on-field decision despite not having conclusive evidence of an edge.
