The WACA Ground will be stripped of blockbuster Test and ODIs from 2018, but the iconic cricket venue has at least been spared from a slow and agonising death.
FULL SCOREBOARD FOR AUSTRALIA VS ENGLAND ODI
Under a new blueprint that has already been approved by the WACA board, Test and international limited-overs games involving South Africa, India and England will be moved to the new $1.2 billion, 60,000-seat stadium at Burswood.
All Big Bash League matches will also be moved from the WACA to the new Perth Stadium, which will be completed by 2018.
The WACA will still host Sheffield Shield matches, as well as Tests and ODIs involving other countries.
Under the plan, the WACA will undergo a $200 million redevelopment to become a boutique stadium to hold between up to 15,000 people.
It’s hoped all stages of the redevelopment will be completed by 2021, with construction slated to start next year.
The WACA hopes to entice WAFL football to the ground to host the match-of-the-round and finals action.
They are also in negotiations to house the West Australian Football Commission headquarters.
WACA chief executive Christina Matthews guaranteed the historic WACA pitches wouldn’t be dug up to accommodate football at the ground.
And she said plans were already in place to develop a drop-in pitch for the new Perth Stadium to replicate the unique characteristics of the fast and bouncy WACA wicket.
“We are building a prototype to experiment with and to replicate the bounce and speed we have here,” Matthews said.
“It has been based on the same soil, clay and grass composition that we have here at the WACA.
“The prototype will go into the centre of (horse racing venue) Gloucester Park over the next few weeks, and will be maintained and tested by our staff and our players.”
The WACA still needs to shore up funding from the state and Federal governments to get their redevelopment plan into gear.
But barring any dramatic setbacks, it seems the proposal will soon be put into action.
The plan to move some Test and ODI fixtures from the WACA appears to be the reason behind Tuesday’s shock resignation of Dennis Lillee as WACA president.
But Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland said the WACA’s plans would help guarantee Perth more blockbuster cricket fixtures, as well as dramatically boost attendances.
“I am very confident that an Ashes Test match at the new Perth Stadium will perhaps see 200,000 people over the course of a five-day Test match, or more,” Sutherland said.
The new plan means the WACA will host its last Ashes Test in the summer of 2017/18.
Although many cricket fans will be sad to see so much cricket moved from the WACA, it’s a move the organisation felt they had to make for the venue to survive long term.
“To do nothing was not an option,” outgoing WACA chairman Sam Gannon said.
“The ground is deteriorating … and eventually would be rejected by international cricket authorities as being fit to host international events.”
WACA’s bold new plans:
* Redevelop the ground into a boutique venue with a capacity of up to 15,000
* The cost will be up to $200 million
* A new high performance centre and administration facilities will be built into the venue
* Construction slated to commence in 2016, with all stages completed by 2021
* Test and ODI fixtures involving South Africa, England and India to be moved to the new Perth Stadium from 2018
* All BBL games to go to Perth Stadium
* Four drop-in wickets to be prepared for the new Perth Stadium, with characteristics similar to the WACA
* The WACA to possibly host WAFL football during winter
* The WACA to possibly house the West Australian Football Commission headquarters
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