The weather forecast is looking good for the first few days of the men's cricket Test between Australia and India at Perth's Optus Stadium, starting this Friday, November 22.

As for the final two days (if required) on Monday, November 25 and Tuesday, November 26, that’s when the picture gets a little murkier.

But let's start with the good news, which is the favourable weather window for the start of the summer of red-ball international cricket.

Image: There's plenty of wet weather in western WA this Tuesday, but it will likely clear by Friday.

• Currently, Perth (and much of western WA) is having a midweek spell of showery weather due to low pressure troughs extending from the Kimberley all the way down to the South West Land Division.
• A little rain fell in Perth on Monday evening, and as you can see on the two-hour radar loop above to 7am Tuesday, there's plenty of rain still around (the green blobs) this morning.
• Showers and the odd storm should stick around until Thursday, but a clearing pattern should kick in from Friday, just in time for the first ball at 10:20am local time (1:20pm AEDT).

As mentioned, a three-day spell of fine mild weather can then be expected, with max temps rising rapidly from 24°C on Friday to 30°C on Saturday and 32°C on Sunday.

The old "Fremantle Doctor” sea breeze should pay a visit on both afternoons over the weekend, keeping things comfortable enough for spectators at Optus Stadium.

Image: Yes, the weather will be good at Optus Stadium for the first Test between Australia and India... at first. Source: "Dobe" via iStock.

For days four and five of the Test match on Monday and Tuesday, there is the chance of afternoon storms. Those storms could even be severe, with the potential for hail and strong wind gusts.

Of course, the recent history of Test cricket shows that days four and five may not be needed

Leading cricket site espncricinfo.com ran a fascinating story earlier this year showing that the average duration of "result" Test matches (matches not drawn) has shrunk dramatically in recent decades. 

And the trend is accelerating. In the last four years, "result" Test matches have shrunk by 16 overs on average, from 311 overs in total across all four innings to 295 overs.

As any cricket fan knows, there are three sessions in a day of Test cricket, each scheduled for two hours. The average men's Test match now lasts just three days and one session! 

So if the first Test between Australia and India is of an average duration for Test match cricket in 2024, then play would wrap up just before the first potential thunderstorms on Monday. Given the fierce rivarly between these teams, we've got a feeling the battle might last a little longer than that.

Check our Perth weather page for the latest forecasts and warnings as the match approaches.