The West Test: Australian coach Andrew McDonald believes second new ball could be their key back into contest

Australia are hoping the second new ball on Sunday could be the key to climbing back into their contest with India. That’s according to coach Andrew McDonald, who believes if his side have rattled through some wickets in the 20 overs before they are handed a fresh Kookaburra, they could cause some trouble. India are 0-172 after the second day’s play at Perth Stadium and young gun Yashasvi Jaiswal cashed in on better batting conditions to near his maiden century away from home. Australia are poised to bowl 23 overs on the third day before they are handed the new ball. “We have got to get to work on what it looks like for us tomorrow morning,” McDonald said after day two. “I think there is 20-odd overs to the second new ball, we have got to work out a way to navigate through a few batters before that second new ball arrives and that could be our entry point back into the game.” Cracks emerging in the pitch are also likely to be a factor as it deteriorates. The next two days are both tipped to reach 30 degrees again. The deck was at its best for batting, but could quickly fall apart. A record-breaking 17 wickets fell on the opening day, meaning India’s unbroken two sessions was far more placid. McDonald is confident his bowlers didn’t stray too far from their approach on Friday and said the deck had changed markedly to suit the batters. “I think the wicket has changed considerably, I think that’s the first point,” he said. “If you look at the seam and swing it was down comparative to yesterday. Yesterday it was difficult work. “I thought KL and Jaiswal played extremely well, you need to ride your luck a little bit, our guys got the balls in the right areas and there were some plays and misses as well, if you get some edges on that there could be a totally different day. “I think the conditions have changed, I’ll state that. “In terms of the way we bowled, I don’t think it was too dissimilar. Perhaps early on we may have been a fraction short, if I was to be critical, but I thought they went about their work well. It could have been a different day.” McDonald refused to suggest any sort of total they would be comfortable chasing, although anything beyond 300 appears daunting. He also said he had “no real concerns” over the management of his bowlers on what is forecast to be a scorching hot Perth day because of the truncated first innings. “The shortened first innings alleviates a lot of that, it will be managed into that second new ball, making sure we have got the energy for that, as I said before that is our opportunity, our entry point into the game,” McDonald said. “We have got a bit of work to do before then, if we can pick up a few before that second new ball it gives us the opportunity. “That’s where our mind’s at at this stage.”