India in Perth: Local WA net bowlers the only outsiders allowed into locked-down tourists’ camp

A small army of local Perth cricketers — including one Scorchers player — will be the only Australians allowed access to the top-secret Indian training camp this week. India’s Test team has gone to the extraordinary measures of banning WA Cricket staff from certain parts of the precinct and using their phones outside of their offices. It was also revealed on Tuesday construction workers, employed by Adco, working on the WACA Ground redevelopment at the northern end of the precinct have also been banned from filming or even watching the Test stars. Black tarp was placed around the outside of the training nets, normally open for viewing by the public from the street. They doubled down on their measures and placed more cover around the facility after The West Australian’s cameras captured images of a training session on Tuesday afternoon. The West can now reveal a list of players, pulled mostly from Premier Cricket clubs in Perth, that will serve as net bowlers for the Indian team and stars including Virat Kohli. One of those is Scarborough leg-spinning all-rounder Matthew Spoors, who made his debut for Western Australia’s one-day team at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday. It is understood Spoors, who was signed by the Scorchers this season and has also played international cricket for Canada, will fly back to Perth on Thursday and bowl to Indian players on Friday. Fellow leg-spinners Luke Holt, a young gun from Willetton, and Fremantle’s Darin Jayaprakassh have also been called up to bowl. That is an intriguing call, given the only wrist-spinner in Australia’s team for the first Test will be part-timer Marnus Labuschagne. Fremantle’s Kaiden Cookson, who bowls left-arm orthodox, will also bowl and Australia doesn’t have any left-arm spinners. Cody Hoffmeister, who clean bowled Pat Cummins while training with the Australian team before last summer’s West Test, and fellow quicks Zac Ferris and Lachie Tyler have also been called in. David Melling, who plays deaf cricket for Australia and WA as well as Suburban Turf for Murdoch University Melville, will also bowl.