Inside view: Perth

Justin Langer Australia, Western Australia and Somerset batsman

At the moment it is a flat, batting paradise

The Waca is a unique wicket because of its pace and bounce - traditionally it is the fastest wicket in the world.

However, it really has changed over the last couple of years and now favours batsmen more than bowlers.

I play my home games at the Waca with Western Australia and there has been so much talk about this particular subject.

We have always prided ourselves on the pace and bounce in Perth, but at the moment it is a flat, batting paradise.

The Western Australian Cricket Association and Cameron Sutherland, the curator are working hard to get the pace back, but unfortunately it has not shown any signs of that so far.

The difficulty is that the pitch doesn't deteriorate.

WHAT IS THE FREMANTLE DOCTOR? A sea breeze which blows from the Indian Ocean over Perth The name Fremantle comes from the nearby suburb to the south west of the city The breeze can often reach speeds of 20 knots, making bowling very difficult

Most wickets get worse as a game goes on but the Waca tends to do the opposite, so it is not really a spinners' wicket. However the slow bowlers who have had some success are finger spinners.

They bowl into the sea breeze - known as the Fremantle Doctor - which blows strongly from the coast.

Finger spinners tend to be more accurate than wrist-spinners, so they can utilise the breeze and bouncier pitch more.

For fast bowlers not accustomed to the Fremantle Doctor, it can be very difficult to bowl into.

It can be so strong that it can make life difficult for home bowlers, but that is one of the intricacies of playing here.

606 DEBATE: Your tourist tips for Perth

As a rule, if there is any assistance in the wicket, it is generally in the first day of a match so if you win the toss, the trend has been to bowl first.

It has always had the pace and bounce - spectators love seeing bouncers bowled by fast bowlers.

The keepers stand a long way back, which adds to the atmosphere.

But Perth is also one of the best places in the world to bat. It is a very fast outfield and the bounce is even and consistent.

The ground itself has quite short, straight boundaries - at least they feel that way to me!

Then there is the brilliant climate. It is a beautiful place to play cricket.

Justin Langer was speaking to Oliver Brett