The prototype drop-in pitch for the new Perth Stadium has passed its first trial with flying colours, but the next few days shapes as the ultimate test.
Local cricketers tested out the drop-in pitch in a 90-over trial at Gloucester Park on Monday, with the deck to be used for another four days to replicate a full Test match.
With blockbuster Tests and one-dayers to be played at the new Perth Stadium from 2018, curator Matt Page and his team are attempting to develop a drop-in wicket that will replicate the traditional fast and bouncy characteristics of the WACA deck.
Warriors batsman Cameron Bancroft tested out the wicket on Monday, and he was impressed by the way it played.
"It had really even bounce, and it was quite true," Bancroft said.
"It was a little bit slow when it was a bit shorter, but I think that's quite understandable, especially considering the wicket's only 12 months old.
"How it deteriorates will be interesting to see.
"The WACA can sometimes get quicker and faster the longer the game goes on. Hopefully this wicket shows the same sort of deterioration and improvement."
Hawk-Eye, the world leader in ball-tracking technology, has been employed to provide analysis on the current state of the prototype wicket.
It will capture information on such variables such as release speed, pre and post-bounce speed, pace lost off the wicket, and bounce height.
Data and player feedback obtained from this week's testing will allow Page and his team to create an even better wicket to experiment with.
The WACA pitch itself has come under fire this summer for being too flat and lifeless.
During the drawn WACA Test between Australia and New Zealand in November, a whopping 1672 runs were scored, with only 28 wickets falling.
WACA chief executive Christina Matthews is confident the wicket can regain its fast and bouncy reputation once a few tweaks are made.
"It's certainly not what it was when Dennis Lillee played on it, because since then it's been resurfaced, it's had new irrigation and things like that," Matthews said.
"And a lot of players of that era will tell you it will never go back to that.
"But it will still have the capabilities of being much faster and more unique than other pitches around the country."
The WACA deck will be put under the microscope again during the Shield clash between Western Australia and Queensland, starting Thursday.
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