Wikipedia

WACA Ground

(Redirected from The Waca)

The WACA Ground (/ˈwækə/)[2] is a sports stadium in Perth, Western Australia. The stadium's name derives from the initials of its owners and operators, the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA).

WACA Ground
During the 3rd Test of the 2006/07 Ashes
Map
LocationEast Perth, Western Australia
Coordinates31°57′35″S 115°52′46″E / 31.95985°S 115.8795°E / -31.95985; 115.8795 (WACA Ground)
OwnerWestern Australian Cricket Association
OperatorWestern Australian Cricket Association
Capacity20,000[1]
Record attendance34,317 – 1994 AFL finals
SurfaceGrass
Opened1890; 134 years ago (1890)
Website
https://wacaground.com.au/
Ground information
End names
Gloucester Park End (formerly Prindiville Stand End)
Members' (or Lillee-Marsh Stand) End
International information
First Test11–16 December 1970:
 Australia v  England
Last Test14–18 December 2017:
 Australia v  England
First ODI9 December 1980:
 India v  New Zealand
Last ODI19 January 2017:
 Australia v  Pakistan
First T20I11 December 2007:
 Australia v  New Zealand
Last T20I31 October 2010:
 Australia v  Sri Lanka
First women's Test21–24 March 1958:
 Australia v  England
Last women's Test15–17 February 2024:
 Australia v  South Africa
First WODI12 March 2005:
 Australia v  New Zealand
Last WODI22 February 2019:
 Australia v  New Zealand
First WT20I22 February 2020:
 Thailand v  West Indies
Last WT20I24 February 2020:
 India v  Bangladesh
Team information
Western Australia (Cricket) (1899–)
Perth Football Club (WAFL) (1899–1958)
West Coast Eagles (AFL) (1987–2000)
Fremantle Football Club (AFL) (1995–2000)
Perth Scorchers (BBL) (2011–2018)
Perth Scorchers Women (WBBL) (2015–)
WA Reds (ARL/SL) (1995–1997)
East Fremantle Football Club (WAFL) (2022-2023)
As of 17 February 2024
Source: ESPN Cricinfo

The WACA has been referred to as Western Australia's "home of cricket" since the early 1890s, with Test cricket played at the ground since the 1970–71 season.[3] The ground is the home venue of Western Australia's first-class cricket team, the Western Warriors, and the state's Women's National Cricket League side, the Western Fury. The Perth Scorchers, a Big Bash League franchise, played home matches at the ground until 2019.[4] The Scorchers and Australian national team have shifted most matches to the nearby 60,000-seat Perth Stadium.

The pitch at the WACA is regarded as one of the quickest and bounciest in the world. These characteristics, in combination with the afternoon sea-breezes which regularly pass the ground (the Fremantle Doctor), have historically made the ground an attractive place for pace and swing bowlers. The outfield is exceptionally fast, contributing to the ground seeing some very fast scoring – as of February 2016, four of the nine fastest Test centuries have been scored at the WACA.[5] The WACA has also hosted 7 scores of 99 in Test cricket – the most of any ground in the world.

Throughout its history, the ground has also been used for a range of other sports, including athletics carnivals, Australian rules football, baseball, soccer, rugby league, rugby union, and international rules football. However, recent years have seen most of these activities relocated to other venues. It has also been used for major rock concerts. The WACA Museum is located on-site and features exhibits about Western Australian cricket.

Early history

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An early coloured image of the Association ground in about 1910, looking north, with a large crowd watching a game in progress. Note the original 1890s stand is evidently packed.

William Henry Wise, a gardener who came to WA from England in 1880, laid the first turf wicket at the WACA. Wise was personal gardener to Sir George Shenton, of Crawley. In addition to his work at the WACA Ground, he laid the first tennis court on the Perth Esplanade.

The Western Australian Cricket Association was officially established on 25 November 1885 under the Presidency of JCH James. In 1893, the WACA ground was officially opened, occupying a site of old swamp land to the east of the city. The association has a 999-year lease over the land (which expires in 2888). The long term of the lease means that, effectively, the association has freehold title (save that it cannot divest itself of any part of the land without the state government's consent). Originally, the title covered 29 acres (117,000 m2), and took in what is now Gloucester Park. However, the latter part of the land was divested to the Trotting Association in the early 1920s. Between 1977 and 1979, (then-rebel) World Series Cricket matches were played at Gloucester Park because the Kerry Packer-led organisation was not granted access to the WACA.

The first match played on the turf wickets took place in February 1894. However, difficulties encountered in transporting teams to Western Australia meant that the ground was not part of Australia's main cricket community for many years. Even with the building of a transcontinental railway, the trip from the eastern states still took several days. It took the introduction of scheduled flights to Western Australia to make the WACA readily accessible to interstate or overseas teams.

James Gardiner, president of the WACA for three terms between 1897 and 1924, proposed the adoption of 'electorate' cricket (as it was first known) whereby teams were established on a district basis for competition.[6] He also inaugurated Country Week cricket, during which country teams compete against each other.[7] In 1907, the WACA ground was under threat of being controlled by the Perth City Council to recover debts. Gardiner led the bid to save the ground and secured a government loan.[8] Further financial difficulties led Gardiner to again raise funds and donations with a cricket match by the Australian XI team in 1912.[8]

From 1928 to 1935, motorcycle speedway took place around the outside of the oval.[9] The Australian champion in 1928 and 1929 Sig Schlam, lost his life in a crash at the ground on 1 November 1930.[10]

 
Photo taken during a domestic match at the WACA Ground in 1951.

Ground developments

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The WACA scoreboard at its opening in December 1953
 
The WACA Scoreboard in 2015

The WACA ground, like many stadiums of its era, has undergone various re-developments. The most notable are:

  • The building, in 1895, of the first grandstand; seating 500 people and incorporating dressing rooms, a dining room, bathrooms, members' rooms and bars.
  • In 1931 the Farley Stand was opened, named after W.J. Farley, the association's president from 1915–1916 to 1916–17 and secretary from 1917–1918 to 1928–1929.[11]
  • In 1948 the scoreboard at the WACA was destroyed by a storm. In 1954 a replacement scoreboard was built, a donation from the North West Murchison Cricket Association. This, now iconic, scoreboard remains in operation.
  • In the 1960s the Players Pavilion was built to provide facilities for the players and the WACA administration. Additional seating was later added, initially to accommodate the first Test match to be played at the WACA (Australia v England in 1970).
  • Also to welcome Test cricket to the WACA, 1970 saw the opening of the "Test Stand".[12] It was later renamed the Inverarity Stand, after Western Australian, South Australian and Australian player John Inverarity.
  • From 1984 to 1988 the WACA underwent major renovations, including a realignment and a complete resurfacing of the ground and the construction of new terracing and seating in the outer.

Also built were: -

  • the three tiered Prindiville Stand, name after the then WACA president Bernie Prindiville in 1985
  • the two tiered Lillee-Marsh Stand named after the former WA Australian cricketers Dennis Lillee and Rod Marsh in 1988, which increased the ground's seating capacity.

Six large light towers were also installed in 1986 at a cost of $4.2 million, allowing for night time sports such as day-night cricket matches to be played at the ground. An icon of the WACA, the floodlights are 70 metres high and cost $600 per hour to run.[13]

 
The WACA facing north, showing the Inverarity Stand (left) and the Prindiville Stand (right)

These redevelopments also made the venue an attractive venue for sports other than cricket, and it was during the late 1980s and early 1990s that the ground saw its greatest use as a multi-sports venue. From 1987 to 2000, the ground was used by the West Coast Eagles, and from 1995 by the Fremantle Dockers, both Western Australian-based AFL teams. 72 AFL matches were held at the ground during this time. From 1995 to 1997 the WACA also served as the home ground for the Western Reds rugby league team. In the late 1990s the ground played host to the Perth Heat in the former Australian Baseball League (1989-1999).

However, for various reasons these sports moved away from the WACA (in the case of night football, to Subiaco Oval), and as a consequence the WACA was again redeveloped in 2002. The capacity of the ground was reduced to around 20,000 with the demolition of the Farley Stand and the old Players Pavilion with the stands being replaced by podiums for temporary stands, replacing the seats square of the wickets with grass hills, the construction of a new Players Pavilion in between the Lillee-Marsh Stand and the Scoreboard, replacement of seats in the remaining grandstands and the dimensions of the playing arena were also decreased by a total of 31 metres at the eastern and western boundaries, meaning Australian rules football could no longer be played at the ground. From time to time, temporary stands are used to boost the ground's capacity to 24,500.

In 2013, a new video screen was installed at the WACA near the old scoreboard, replacing one of the old temporary screens.

Rejected proposals

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In April 2007 the Western Australian Cricket Association announced a $250m redevelopment of the stadium. Seating capacity was to be increased, with residential and commercial buildings built in the surrounding areas.[14] The project was to be done in partnership with Ascot Capital Limited with a three- to four-year time frame.[15][16] WACA members gave final approval for the project in July 2010 and construction was expected to commence in March 2011.[17] However, by November 2011 work on the redevelopment had still yet to commence, and it was reported that delays could continue for years. Although the project received finance, tax office and members' approval, adverse market conditions were believed to have made the project unfeasible.[18] The redevelopment was also the subject of a dispute between the WACA and the Australian Cricketers Association, with the players' union seeking 26 per cent of the value of the project.[18][19]

 
Perth Scorchers taking on Hobart Hurricanes at The WACA Ground in 2011 - the first BBL match played at the ground.

In November 2012 the WACA and Ascot Capital Limited commenced selling 137 apartments in "The Gardens", a planned 10-story residential complex to be located on the western boundary line of the ground.[20] Construction of The Gardens was expected to commence mid-2013 and be completed by mid-2015.[21] The agreement between the WACA and Ascot Capital would have seen new northern grandstands, an increase in ground capacity and a long term revenue stream. However, in December 2013 the WACA released a statement that it had abandoned the so-called Gardens Development because it was unable to achieve the pre-sales target in order to finance the project.[22]

In September 2013 Cricket Australia announced that the WACA ground would not host a Test match in the shortened 2014/15 season to accommodate the 2015 Cricket World Cup, a decision which left Perth without a summer test match for the first time in nearly 40 years. Cricket Australia said the WACA Ground required significant improvements, given it has the smallest capacity of the five mainland capital city venues.[23]

2019-2025 redevelopments

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By the 2018/19 summer, the WACA Ground was no longer the primary international cricket venue in Perth, having been replaced by Perth Stadium in Burswood for most limited overs internationals, Test matches and domestic Big Bash League (BBL) matches for Perth Scorchers.[24] Several years before construction of Perth Stadium concluded, the WACA proposed developing the ground into a 15,000-capacity boutique stadium with improved facilities.[25] In March 2019 the WACA unveiled plans to improve cricket training facilities and enable the ground to host large-scale community events. The plans also included a proposal to reshape the ground to once again be capable of hosting Australian rules football matches, notably marquee WAFL matches. The total cost would be $75 million, of which $60 million would need to be either privately financed or granted by state and federal governments.[26]

In August 2019, the Western Australian Government provided a $100,000 grant to the Western Australian Cricket Association to construct two new change rooms under the Lillee-Marsh Stand to support women's cricket in the state. Construction of the change rooms was completed in time for the 2020 ICC Women's T20 World Cup.[27] In December 2019 the WACA confirmed a $30 million grant had been granted from the Federal Government for major upgrade works.[28] This was later matched with an identical grant from the Western Australian Government.[29]

Redevelopment works began in August 2021.[29] The Inverarity and Prindiville stands will be demolished and be replaced by a community sports hub and a new multi-level public pavilion, and the grass hills at either end will be partially excavated to allow Australian rules football matches to again be played at the ground. New facilities include a high-performance cricket centre, a new museum, cafe, gym, and a six-lane, 50-metre outdoor swimming pool. A new aquatic centre will include an indoor learn-to-swim pool and waterslides.[30] As part of the redevelopment, five of the light towers were also upgraded with the replacement of the older lights with LED sports lighting as well as the ability to be lit up in various colours in a similar way to Perth Stadium's exterior and were first switched on in December 2022.[31] Light tower no.2, located next the site of the original Players Pavilion was not upgraded and was demolished to make way for the high performance centre.

The redevelopment of the WACA was originally intended to be completed in December 2023.[32][29] This was later revised to September 2025.[30] The East Fremantle Football Club of the West Australian Football League (WAFL) played their home matches at the WACA for the 2022 and 2023 seasons when East Fremantle Oval underwent its own redevelopment.

Notable events at the WACA

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1899
1930s
  • In 1932, Donald Bradman played at the ground for the first time and attracted a crowd in excess of 20,000 in 1932.
  • On 24 and 26 November 1934, the world's first international women's cricket match was played at the WACA Ground between Western Australia and a touring England team.[34] The visitors batted first and declared at 3/201, with Molly Hide scoring an even 100.[35] Western Australia was then dismissed for 82, and, after following on, was 3/59 when stumps were drawn early to enable the visitors to be driven to Fremantle and embark on the SS Balranald for Adelaide.[36]
1950s
  • In March 1958, the first women's cricket Test match to be held in Perth was played at the WACA Ground, and ended in a draw (Scorecard). The match was also the WACA Ground's first Test match.[34]
1960s
  • In October 1967, Western Australia's Ian Brayshaw collected 10 for 44 against Victoria in Victoria's first innings (Scorecard), the second best bowling figures in an innings in Sheffield Shield history.[37]
1970s
  • During the first men's Test match at the WACA, Australia's Greg Chappell scored 108 on Test debut versus England, batting at 7, on 13 December 1970. Brian Luckhurst, Ian Redpath and John Edrich also scored centuries in the draw (Scorecard).
  • On 24 February 1973, The Rolling Stones performed at the WACA during their 1973 Pacific Tour.
  • Doug Walters hit a century in a session against England in 1974, where he hit Bob Willis for six from the last ball of the day (Scorecard).
  • In December 1975 West Indian Roy Fredericks scored a century in just 71 balls against Australia, which was at the time the second fastest century (in terms of balls faced) in Test history.[5] Fredericks went on to score 169, which is the record for the highest score at the WACA by an overseas player (Scorecard).
  • In the semi-final of the 1976/77 Gillette Cup domestic one day competition, which became known as the "Miracle Match", Western Australia was bowled out by Queensland for 77, before dismissing Queensland for 62 to win the match.(Scorecard).
  • Australian batsman Tony Mann scored 108 against India as nightwatchman in 1977/1978. This is one of only five centuries by a nightwatchman in Test match cricket (Scorecard).
  • In 1977–1978, the Domestic One-Day Final was played at the WACA for the first time, with Western Australia defeating Tasmania.
  • On the last day of a Test match in March 1979, Pakistani tailender Sikander Bakht was Mankaded by Australia's Alan Hurst to end Pakistan's innings. Later in the day, Australian Andrew Hilditch was dismissed handled the ball after he interrupted a throw from mid-on and passed the ball to the bowler Sarfraz Nawaz, who appealed. Both dismissals were considered to have been against the spirit of cricket, and Nawaz' appeal was considered to have been retribution for Bakht's Mankading. (Scorecard).[38]
  • England's only men's Test win at the ground came during the World Series Cricket split in 1978/1979, when David Gower scored 102. Rodney Hogg took ten wickets for Australia (Scorecard).
  • In December 1979, on the second day of the Test match between Australia and England, Dennis Lillee came out to bat with a cricket bat made from aluminium, known as a ComBat, rather than the traditional willow. After four deliveries and three runs, England captain Mike Brearley complained it was damaging the ball. Play was held up for ten minutes as the umpires persuaded Lillee to change to a wooden bat (Video). In the same match, Ian Botham took 11 for 176 (6 for 78 and 5 for 98), which were his best figures against Australia (Scorecard).
1980s
  • On 9 December 1980, a one-day international match was played at the ground for the first time, between India and New Zealand, which India won by 5 runs (Scorecard).
  • In a 1981 incident described by Wisden Cricketers' Almanack as "one of the most undignified incidents in Test history", Dennis Lillee and Pakistani batsman Javed Miandad clashed after the two collided with each other on the pitch. After colliding, Lillee turned and kicked Miandad from behind; Miandad lifted his bat above his head as if to strike Lillee and Lillee backed off. The umpire Tony Crafter stepped in to separate the two. Lillee was fined and suspended for two matches – (Video, Scorecard).
  • Terry Alderman suffered a serious shoulder injury in 1982/1983 while tackling an English ground invader in the Test match against England. Greg Chappell led his team off the ground for 14 minutes and 26 arrests were made (Video, Scorecard).
  • On 5 February 1984 the record one day cricket match crowd at WACA Ground of 27,057 was recorded, for the game contested by Australia and the West Indies.(Scorecard).
  • In December 1984, the WACA hosted its second women's Test match, between Australia and England.[34] Local Test debutante Denise Emerson (sister of Terry Alderman)[39] top scored for Australia with 84 in the team's first innings, but Jan Brittin achieved the overall top score with 112 in England's second innings (Scorecard). The match was drawn.[34]
  • In 1986 Western Australia played Victoria in a McDonald's Cup fixture as the ground's first cricket match under lights.
  • The Benson & Hedges Perth Challenge, a one-off One Day International tournament, was held in late December 1986 and early January 1987 to help celebrate Australia's defence of the America's Cup yachting competition. Australia, England, Pakistan and the West Indies were the competitors, with England winning the tournament (Scorecards).
  • Merv Hughes took a hat-trick in the Test against the West Indies in 1988/1989, and went on to take 8–87 in the innings. He ended up with 13–217 for the match, the most wickets taken at the ground in a Test match. In the same Test, Australian tail-end batsman Geoff Lawson had his jaw broken by a Curtly Ambrose bouncer (Scorecard).
  • New Zealander Mark Greatbatch scored 146 not out off 485 balls against Australia in November 1989. The match was drawn. Greatbatch was at the crease for almost 11 hours over two days, and saved New Zealand from defeat (Scorecard).
  • Geoff Marsh scored 355* for Western Australia v South Australia in December 1989 (Scorecard) This is the highest ever individual score at the ground by a Western Australian and the seventh highest score in Sheffield Shield history.[40] During this innings, Marsh shared a 1st wicket partnership of 431 with Mike Veletta, the highest ever first wicket partnership in interstate cricket.[41]
1990s
  • Steve Waugh and Mark Waugh put on a partnership of 464* for New South Wales against Western Australia in 1990,(Scorecard), which is the highest partnership in Sheffield Shield history.[42]
  • On 30 January 1993, Curtly Ambrose had a stunning spell of 7–1 (eventually 7/25) as Australia crashed from 3–85 to 119 all out (Scorecard).
  • The largest cricket crowd at the WACA, 28,210, was recorded on 16 January 1994 when Australia played South Africa in a One Day International match.[43] (Scorecard).
  • The largest crowd at the WACA of 34,317 attended the AFL Preliminary Final between the West Coast Eagles and the Melbourne Football Club, 24 September 1994.
  • In 1995, watched by a record 24,392, the Western Reds Rugby League team made its debut in ARL competition, defeating St George 28–16.
  • On 24 June 1995, First ever international friendly soccer played at the WACA of 11,634. Socceroos vs Ghana and lost 0–1.
  • The Western Warriors defeated the Queensland Bulls in the final of the 1999/2000 Australian one day domestic competition. WA batted first and made 301. Queensland was in a comfortable position at 1/202 in the 30th over, only to collapse to be all out for 256 in the 46th over.
2000s
  • On 1 December 2000, Australia's Glenn McGrath took a Test hat-trick, dismissing the West Indian batsmen Sherwin Campbell, Brian Lara, and captain Jimmy Adams, taking his 300th Test wicket in the process (Lara). This also lead the way to Australia's first ever win against the West Indies at the WACA after 5 losses (including 3 by an innings) from previous encounters stretching back as far as 1975.(Scorecard)
  • In February 2001, Australia's Damien Martyn scored 144* against Zimbabwe in a one-day international, the highest ODI score for an individual at the ground. Australia won the game by one run.(Scorecard)
  • Australia's Matthew Hayden scored a then Test-record 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003, surpassing Brian Lara's world record highest score of 375. Australia declared at 735–6, the highest ever team total compiled at the ground in Tests (Scorecard).
  • In 2004, at the age of 34, Glenn McGrath took eight wickets for 24 runs against Pakistan, his best Test bowling figures, and the best ever Test bowling figures at the WACA (Scorecard).
  • On 8 May 2004, KISS kicked off their Rock the Nation Tour at the WACA.
  • On 12 January 2005, the WACA hosted Australia's first Twenty20 match, played between the Western Warriors and the Victorian Bushrangers. It drew a sellout crowd of 20,700 – the largest seen at the ground for many years.
  • Chris Rogers and Marcus North put on a partnership of 459, Western Australia v Victoria, in October 2006 (Scorecard). This is the third highest partnership[42] and highest partnership for the third wicket[41] in Sheffield Shield history. Rogers' score of 279 was at the time the second highest ever by a West Australian, behind the 355* that Geoff Marsh scored at the same ground in December 1989.[40]
  • Australian wicket keeper Adam Gilchrist hit the second fastest hundred in Test match history (now the fourth fastest), off 57 balls, in the 3rd Ashes Test match, in December 2006.[5](Scorecard)This was just one more ball than the record set by Viv Richards in 1985–1986.[5] It eclipsed the previous Australian record of a hundred off 67 balls set by Jack Gregory at Johannesburg in 1921–1922.[5] Gilchrist did not score a run from seven of his first nine deliveries.
  • The WACA hosted its first Twenty20 International match on 11 December 2007. Australia defeated New Zealand by 55 runs (Scorecard).
  • India defeated Australia by 72 runs to end Australia's record-equaling Test match winning streak of 16 consecutive wins, in January 2008 (Scorecard).
  • South Africa defeated Australia by six wickets in a Test match in December 2008, achieving the second-highest successful run chase in Test history when they reached the victory target of 414 late in the second session on the final day, for the loss of just four wickets.[44] In the match, Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson became the first left-arm paceman to take eight wickets in a Test innings with figures of 8/61 in South Africa's first innings (Scorecard).
  • In December 2009, West Indian Chris Gayle scored the fifth-fastest hundred in Test cricket history, against Australia (now the eighth fastest).[5] His hundred came off just 70 balls and included six sixes and nine fours.(Scorecard).
2010s
  • During a one-day international between Australia and Pakistan in January 2010, Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi was captured by television cameras making two solid biting motions into the ball; he was suspended for two matches after pleading guilty to ball tampering. In the same game, Pakistan player Khalid Latif was crash-tackled to the ground by a spectator who had run onto the ground to reach the cricketer, later leading to intense scrutiny of the WACA's security measures.
  • In January 2012, Australian batsman David Warner scored a century off 69 balls against India, the equal fourth fastest hundred in Test cricket history shared with Shivnarine Chanderpaul of the West Indies (now equal sixth fastest).[5](Scorecard).
  • Liam Davis and Adam Voges had a 343-run partnership for Western Australia v New South Wales in February 2012 (Scorecard). This ranks inside the top-five WA partnerships of all time and marked the best third-wicket WA partnership against NSW. Davis' score of 303* is the 16th highest score in Sheffield Shield history.[40]
  • The Guinness World Record for the highest basketball shot in the world was thrown from one of the four flood-light towers at the WACA (Video).
  • In January 2014, the WACA hosted its third women's Test match, between England and Australia. In a low scoring contest, in which the momentum ebbed and flowed until the final morning, England emerged the winner, by 61 runs, but Ellyse Perry of Australia was awarded player of the match (Scorecard). England's veteran captain Charlotte Edwards has since described the Test as "the most incredible match I'll ever play in".[45]
  • On 13 November 2015 David Warner scored 253 against New Zealand, which at the time was the second highest test score at the ground[46] In the same game on 15 November, Ross Taylor scored 290, the highest total against an Australian team in Australia. Also he overtook Warner's score in the previous innings to make the second highest test score at the ground.[47]
  • On 14 December 2017, WACA hosted its final Ashes Test, and possibly final international match. In that match, both Dawid Malan (140) and Mitchell Marsh scored their maiden Test centuries (Marsh reached 181) and Jonny Bairstow scored his first century in Australia, Steve Smith scored his maiden home Test double-century, then went on to his highest Test score (239). Smith and Marsh also achieved the highest partnership for the 5th wicket at the WACA (301). The match ended with Australia regaining the Ashes.(Scorecard).
  • On 25 January 2018, the WACA hosted its final Big Bash League match - Perth Scorchers V Adelaide Strikers.

Test cricket records

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Ricky Ponting holds the record for most career runs at the WACA.

Batting

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Most career runs[48]
Runs Player Period
965 (26 innings)   Ricky Ponting 1995–2012
931 (26 innings)   Allan Border 1979–1993
846 (19 innings)   David Boon 1985–1995
843 (21 innings)   Steve Waugh 1986–2003
825 (10 innings)   David Warner 2012–2017
 
David Gower holds the record for most career runs at the ground by a non-Australian.
 
Matthew Hayden scored 380 against Zimbabwe in 2003, the highest score at the ground.
Most career runs (non-Australia)[49]
Runs Player Period
471 (10 innings)   David Gower 1978–1991
422 (6 innings)   AB de Villiers 2005–2012
326 (2 innings)   Ross Taylor 2015–2015
320 (6 innings)   Graeme Smith 2005–2012
319 (6 innings)   Geoffrey Boycott 1970–1979
Highest individual scores[50]
Runs Player Date
380 v. Zimbabwe   Matthew Hayden 9 Oct 2003
290 v. Australia   Ross Taylor 13 Nov 2015
253 v. New Zealand   David Warner 13 Nov 2015
239 v. England   Steve Smith 14 Dec 2017
231 v. Sri Lanka   Michael Slater 8 Dec 1995
Most centuries[51]
Centuries Player Period
3 (9 innings)   Steve Smith 2010–2017
3 (10 innings)   David Warner 2012–2017
2 (6 innings)   AB de Villiers 2005–2012
2 (7 innings)   Dean Jones 1986–1992
2 (9 innings)   Michael Slater 1993–2000
2 (10 innings)   David Gower 1978–1991
2 (13 innings)   Greg Chappell 1970–1983
2 (14 innings)   Adam Gilchrist 1999–2008
2 (15 innings)   Michael Hussey 2005–2012
2 (16 innings)   Mark Waugh 1991–2001
2 (16 innings)   Justin Langer 1993–2006
2 (19 innings)   David Boon 1985–1995
2 (26 innings)   Allan Border 1979–1993
Highest batting average (5+ innings)[52]
Average Player Period
84.40 (6 innings, 1 NO)   AB de Villiers 2005–2012
82.50 (10 innings, 0 NO)   David Warner 2012–2017
81.33 (7 innings, 1 NO)   Dean Jones 1986–1992
70.75 (6 innings, 2 NO)   Ian Redpath 1970–1975
69.50 (6 innings, 2 NO)   Martin Crowe 1985–1993

Bowling

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Glenn McGrath took 52 wickets in 24 innings, the most by any bowler.
 
Curtly Ambrose took 24 wickets in six innings, the most by a non-Australian.
Most career wickets[53]
Wickets Player Period
52 (24 innings)   Glenn McGrath 1993–2006
45 (14 innings)   Mitchell Johnson 2008–2015
40 (16 innings)   Brett Lee 2000–2008
39 (11 innings)   Merv Hughes 1988–1993
38 (15 innings)   Craig McDermott 1985–1995
Most career wickets (non-Australia)[54]
Wickets Player Period
24 (6 innings)   Curtly Ambrose 1988–1997
18 (4 innings)   Richard Hadlee 1980–1985
14 (8 innings)   Ian Botham 1978–1986
14 (8 innings)   Bob Willis 1974–1982
13 (4 innings)   Ian Bishop 1993–1997
Best innings figures[55]
Figures Player Date
8/24 v. Pakistan   Glenn McGrath 1 Dec 2004
8/61 v. South Africa   Mitchell Johnson 17 Dec 2008
8/87 v. West Indies   Merv Hughes 2 Dec 1988
8/97 v. England   Craig McDermott 1 Feb 1991
7/25 v. Australia   Curtly Ambrose 30 Jan 1993
7/27 v. India   Mike Whitney 1 Feb 1992
7/54 v. Australia   Andy Roberts 12 Dec 1975
Best match figures[56]
Figures Player Date
13/217 v. West Indies   Merv Hughes 2 Dec 1988
11/95 v. India   Mike Whitney 1 Feb 1992
11/118 v. Pakistan   Carl Rackemann 11 Nov 1983
11/155 v. Australia   Richard Hadlee 30 Nov 1985
11/157 v. England   Craig McDermott 1 Feb 1991
11/159 v. South Africa   Mitchell Johnson 17 Dec 2008
11/176 v. Australia   Ian Botham 14 Dec 1979
Lowest strike rate (4+ innings)[57]
Strike rate Player Period
26.5 (13 wickets)   Ian Bishop 1993–1997
26.6 (24 wickets)   Curtly Ambrose 1988–1997
28.0 (18 wickets)   Michael Kasprowicz 1997–2004
30.7 (14 wickets)   Damien Fleming 1998–1999
32.9 (11 wickets)   Michael Holding 1975–1984

Team records

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Highest innings scores[58]
Score Team Date
6/735d   Australia v. Zimbabwe 9 Oct 2003
6/662d   Australia v. England 14 Dec 2017
624   New Zealand v. Australia 13 Nov 2015
5/617d   Australia v. Sri Lanka 8 Dec 1995
8/592d   England v. Australia 28 Nov 1986
Lowest completed innings[59]
Score Team Date
62   Pakistan v. Australia 13 Nov 1981
72   Pakistan v. Australia 16 Dec 2004
76   Australia v. West Indies 9 Nov 1984
112   England v. Australia 28 Nov 1998
119   Australia v. West Indies 30 Jan 1993

Partnership records

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Highest partnerships[60]
Runs Wicket Players Match Date
327 5th Ricky Ponting (197) & Justin Langer (144)   Australia v.   Pakistan 26 Nov 1999
302 2nd David Warner (253) & Usman Khawaja (121)   Australia v.   New Zealand 13 Nov 2015
301 5th Steve Smith (239) & Mitchell Marsh (181)   Australia v.   England 14 Dec 2017
265 3rd Ross Taylor (290) & Kane Williamson (166)   New Zealand v.   Australia 13 Nov 2015
259 2nd Wayne Phillips (159) & Graham Yallop (141)   Australia v.   Pakistan 11 Nov 1983
Highest partnerships by wicket[61]
Runs Wicket Players Match Date
228 1st Michael Slater (219) & Mark Taylor (96)   Australia v.   Sri Lanka 8 Dec 1995
302 2nd David Warner (253) & Usman Khawaja (121)   Australia v.   New Zealand 13 Nov 2015
265 3rd Ross Taylor (290) & Kane Williamson (166)   New Zealand v.   Australia 13 Nov 2015
207 4th Matthew Hayden (380) & Steve Waugh (78)   Australia v.   Zimbabwe 9 Oct 2003
327 5th Ricky Ponting (197) & Justin Langer (144)   Australia v.   Pakistan 26 Nov 1999
233 6th Matthew Hayden (380) & Adam Gilchrist (113*)   Australia v.   Zimbabwe 9 Oct 2003
149 7th Jeff Dujon (139) & Larry Gomes (127)   West Indies v.   Australia 9 Nov 1984
253 8th Nathan Astle (156*) & Adam Parore (110)   New Zealand v.   Australia 30 Nov 2001
81 9th Sachin Tendulkar (114) & Kiran More (43)   India v.   Australia 1 Feb 1992
87 10th Mitchell Starc (68*) & Nathan Lyon (31)   Australia v.   South Africa 30 Nov 2012

Last updated 4 July 2022.

Cricket museum

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The WACA has a cricket museum just next to the ground. Visitors can view memorabilia of Australian cricket. They display not only the history of cricket, but also other sports played at the WACA.

References

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Notes

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  1. ^ "WACA Ground". Austadiums. Retrieved 16 July 2023.
  2. ^ "About the WACA Ground". Western Australian Cricket Association. Archived from the original on 2 July 2017. Retrieved 28 May 2017.
  3. ^ "The Ashes – 2nd Test Australia v England". Archived from the original on 7 February 2009. Retrieved 22 January 2007.
  4. ^ #THEFURNACE Archived 19 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine perthscorchers.com.au. Retrieved on 20 Dec 2015
  5. ^ a b c d e f g ESPNcricinfo. "Records / Test matches / Batting records / Fastest hundreds". ESPN. Archived from the original on 26 September 2013. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  6. ^ The West Australian, 29 October 1928.
  7. ^ Western Australian Cricketing Association 1924, Annual Report 1923, Perth.
  8. ^ a b Barker A.J. (1997). The WACA: An Australian Cricket Success Story. Allen & Unwin, St. Leonard.
  9. ^ "Perth (WA) Australia". Speedway and Road Race History. Retrieved 1 March 2024.
  10. ^ "Speedway rider killed". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 3 November 1930. Retrieved 1 March 2024 – via British Newspaper Archive.
  11. ^ "New Stand". Geraldton Guardian and Express (WA : 1929 – 1947). WA: National Library of Australia. 12 September 1930. p. 2. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 23 September 2012.
  12. ^ "WACA Celebrates 50 Year Anniversary Of Historic 1970 Test match". waca.com.au. Archived from the original on 16 January 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  13. ^ "WACA Ground History". wacaground.com.au. Retrieved 26 November 2023.
  14. ^ EPRA projects: WACA Archived 12 September 2009 at the Wayback Machine EPRA website, November 2008.
  15. ^ WACA secures its Home and Financial Future Archived 11 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine Sportsaustralia.com, 13 April 2007
  16. ^ $250m plan to revamp WACA revealed Archived 20 January 2008 at the Wayback Machine The Sydney Morning Herald 13 April 2007.
  17. ^ "Development Agreement with Ascot Capital Ltd Approved". WACA. 28 July 2010. Archived from the original on 16 September 2010. Retrieved 21 August 2010.
  18. ^ a b John Townsend, WACA redevelopment in jeopardy Archived 13 July 2012 at archive.today The West Australian 15 November 2011.
  19. ^ Robert Craddock, Australian Cricketers Association and WACA in conflict over real estate development, The Herald Sun, 12 January 2012.
  20. ^ Marissa Lague, WACA view holds big appeal for apartments Archived 5 January 2013 at archive.today, The West Australian, 28 November 2012.
  21. ^ Metropolitan Redevelopment Authority, Projects: WACA Archived 9 February 2013 at the Wayback Machine.
  22. ^ ABC News, WACA abandons plan for apartments on site to fund upgrade of ground Archived 16 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, 17 December 2013.
  23. ^ ABC News WACA upset over loss of Perth Test match for 2014-15 Archived 15 December 2013 at the Wayback Machine, 17 December 2013.
  24. ^ "WACA to shift Test matches to new Perth Stadium at Burswood". WAToday. 3 September 2015. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 5 September 2015.
  25. ^ "WACA Ground Development". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 11 September 2013. Archived from the original on 15 December 2013. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  26. ^ "WACA Ground plan to become community-minded venue needs $60m in public funding". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 7 March 2019. Archived from the original on 7 October 2019. Retrieved 8 October 2019.
  27. ^ "WACA To Have All-Gender Changerooms". waca.com.au. Archived from the original on 27 August 2019. Retrieved 27 August 2019.
  28. ^ "Cricket Welcomes Federal Government Commitment To WACA Ground". Archived from the original on 18 December 2019. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  29. ^ a b c "Work to upgrade WACA Ground commences". Austadiums. 23 August 2021. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2021.
  30. ^ a b "WACA Ground Improvement Project Reaches Major Milestone". wacricket.com.au. Retrieved 17 October 2024.
  31. ^ "WACA Ground Turns Technicolour for Perth Scorchers". wacricket.com.au. Retrieved 16 December 2022.
  32. ^ "WACA Ground to be extended, Inverarity and Prindiville stands demolished in redevelopment". thewest.com.au. 19 August 2021. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  33. ^ "Western Australia v South Australia, 1898–99". ESPNcricinfo. ESPN Inc. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 22 November 2013.
  34. ^ a b c d "History". WACA website. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  35. ^ "Women's Cricket". Sunday Times (Perth). No. 1922. Western Australia. 25 November 1934. p. 5 (First Section). Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  36. ^ "WOMEN CRICKETERS". The West Australian. Vol. 50, no. 15, 112. Western Australia. 27 November 1934. p. 18. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2018 – via National Library of Australia.
  37. ^ ESPNcricinfo. "Sheffield Shield / Pura Cup / Records / Best bowling figures in an innings". ESPN. Archived from the original on 11 August 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  38. ^ Abhishek Mukherjee (29 March 2013). "Sarfraz tanks non-striker Hilditch for picking up stray ball and giving it to him by appeal for handling the ball". Archived from the original on 11 January 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2014.
  39. ^ Phil Derriman (11 December 1984). "This Australian XI are world-beaters". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 13 May 2022. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  40. ^ a b c ESPNcricinfo. "Sheffield Shield / Pura Cup / Records / High scores". ESPN. Archived from the original on 29 March 2019. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  41. ^ a b ESPNcricinfo. "Sheffield Shield / Pura Cup / Records / Highest partnership by wicket". ESPN. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  42. ^ a b ESPNcricinfo. "Sheffield Shield / Pura Cup / Records / Highest partnership by runs". ESPN. Archived from the original on 4 March 2014. Retrieved 30 December 2012.
  43. ^ "WACA Statistics 2015-16". Western Australian Cricket Association. p. 2. Archived from the original on 5 November 2018. Retrieved 5 November 2018.
  44. ^ ESPNcricinfo. "Records / Test matches / Team records / Highest fourth innings totals". ESPN. Archived from the original on 13 September 2012. Retrieved 1 December 2012.
  45. ^ Nicholson, Raf (February 2016). "The case for women's Tests". The Cricket Monthly. Archived from the original on 11 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  46. ^ David Warner double-century Fox Sports 13 November 2015
  47. ^ Ross Taylor ticks off records during epic 290 Archived 19 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine The Times of India 16 November 2015
  48. ^ "Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 3 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  49. ^ "Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  50. ^ "Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 3 July 2022.
  51. ^ "Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  52. ^ "Batting records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  53. ^ "Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  54. ^ "Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  55. ^ "Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  56. ^ "Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  57. ^ "Bowling records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  58. ^ "Team records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  59. ^ "W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  60. ^ "Partnership records | Test matches | Cricinfo Statsguru | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.
  61. ^ "W.A.C.A. Ground, Perth Cricket Team Records & Stats | ESPNcricinfo.com". Cricinfo. Archived from the original on 4 July 2022. Retrieved 4 July 2022.

Bibliography

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  • Barker, Anthony J (1998). The WACA: An Australian Cricket Success Story. St Leonards, NSW: Allen & Unwin. ISBN 1864486759.
  • Brayshaw, Ian (2014). The Miracle Match: Chappell, Lillee, Richards and the Most Electric Moment in Australian Cricket. Richmond, Vic: Hardie Grant Books. ISBN 9781742709338.
  • Casellas, Ken (2017). The Doctor's In: Memorable Moments at the WACA Ground. Subiaco, WA: Churchill Press. ISBN 9780958598613.
  • Casellas, Ken (2018). The Doctor Declares: The End of an Era at the WACA Ground. Subiaco, WA: Churchill Press. ISBN 9780992368036.
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