It’s tempting to get overly emotional about a cricket ground that holds such treasured memories for a nation’s sporting identity.
The WACA has always been a ground that captured the imagination of the cricketing world. The paciest, bounciest wicket on the planet. A place where balls regularly fizz past the batsmen, and are taken by the wicketkeeper above head height.
That is what cricket in Australia really is.
I was never old enough to watch Lillee and Thompson bowl on the hallowed surface, but I saw plenty of McGrath, Gillespie, Lee and more recently Mitchell Johnson.
The big lefty’s two great matches at the ground will live long in the memory. 2010-11 against England, where he took 6-38 and swung the ball prodigiously with the Fremantle Doctor, just another great feature of this ground.
And 8-62 against South Africa, where it was sheer pace and variety that shifted a vast majority of the Proteas top, lower and middle order.
For me, it’s Johnson’s hauls that signalled the WACA’s return to its glory, after years of mutterings that the fiercest tiger of world pitches had lost its teeth. And it will be those bowling performances I tell my bored children about when they ask what the WACA was.
The place where opposition batsmen shuddered at the treatment they were in for, and the place where opposition fast bowlers would lick their lips before being plundered to all parts of the ground.
But the WACA also contains a trap for visiting players. Despite its pace and bounce, bowling short will see you hitting the pickets more times than hitting the batsmen.
For this is where Australians have cut their teeth in Shield cricket. Fast, bouncy wickets are where batsmen like Michael Slater, Justin Langer and more recently David Warner prosper.
When you see people like Dennis Lillee, a born and bred Western Australian who relished the WACA’s conditions, walking away from an administrative position because they can’t stand to see their beloved ground be moved on in lieu of a brand-spanking, shiny 60,000-seater with all the modern bells and whistles a stadium should have.
No Adelaide Oval treatment for Lillee’s beloved WACA.
Having never been to the WACA, it’s hard for me to comment on the ground’s facilities. In cricketing terms, however, there is not a uniquely more Australian ground than the one currently being used in Perth.
The pitch sums up Australian cricket in a 22-by-3 yard strip of hard turf, and a southwesterly wind.
That’s not to say the new ground won’t share the same characteristics. It will have a drop-in pitch, a purist’s nightmare but arguably a better way of cultivating cricket wickets. The question still lingers in every cricket fan’s mind: how can a new ground have the personality the WACA did?
The Gabba, the only possible contender for the prototypical Australian cricket wicket, looked like it could have taken the mantle in recent times. It never quite did though.
For whatever reason, and it has to be a cocktail of evidence and emotion, the WACA is still the strip that inspires fear in opposing batsmen.
Decline is inevitable. As early as 2017 we could have Test matches being played at the new venue in Perth. It’s not a bad thing. Test cricket will still come to Perth.
However, there’s still that connection, even through the television, that viewers hold with the WACA. It inspires cricket lovers. It terrifies batsmen. And it’s been around so long.
Enjoy it while you can.
Don Freo
Guest
The first game of cricket I ever went to at the WACA, Barry Richards scored 300 plus in the day (Chappelli over 150 at the other end). Plenty of soul that day.
baz
Guest
Food is not great at many venues. I've been to all major ones in Sydney in the Regular areas nothing great anywhere. Sitting in the Sun can be done good australian pastime. Shade is expensive it will also push up your ticket prices how much do you pay to go to the Waca ?
Brendon
Guest
The WACA - the stadium so great no one wants to go to it. If stadiums like the 'Gabba are "soulless" and the WACA are "soulful" then give me "soulless" when I'm going to the cricket. Cricket at the WACA is great to watch on TV though. But I wouldnt go to the WACA to watch cricket even if you paid me.
Don Freo
Guest
If Burswood doesn't play like the WACA, the metsphor breaks down st the "extra power" stage.
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
That's like saying you're refusing to upgrade from a Holden Kingswood that's done 300,000km to a new Mercedes S Class because it would only be for the sake of some extra power, comfort and heated seats.
MJ
Guest
That was the major downside to the lone WACA visit for me (first day of Ponting's last hurrah). Not sure I could stand another day sitting in the open air like that on a day of little breeze. The loos looked more appropriate at a construction site (and had a couple of booze bottles around to boot). Food wasn't easy to find but at least was on a par with most other venues (low standard). When half the ground is reserved for members then where's the attraction for average people to go when budgets are tight? That said I worry about the new ground being Gabba like in crowds and atmosphere given Perth often gets crap teams when 2 teams tour.
Alicesprings
Guest
Obvious that the GABBA pitch has changed since the lions raised their concerns. Is it possible that a drop in pitch at the GABBA would actually result in a better pitch?! Maybe an unpopular view but I dare say that in the not to distance future the remaining cricket squares(SCG and GABBA) will be removed. As someone who follows both AFL and cricket I think it will be a good thing.
Don Freo
Guest
Starting reviewing games for the Roar. I'm sure Patrick and co will pay your membership.
Mister Football
Roar Guru
Definitely the case.
13th Man
Guest
Don't think that had anything to do with the pitch JohnB, NZ just didn't even come to play.
13th Man
Guest
I will miss the WACA but I won't miss Subi at all. It's even worse than the WACA in terms of facilities.
13th Man
Guest
It will have good train connections which is important. If Barnett eventually pull's his finger out and builds that light rail system he has been talking about for yonks then it'll be similar to the MCG in transport connections. Right next to Crown Casino though so thats something.
13th Man
Guest
Nah don't worry about Perth, the weather is generally awesome for a Perth test, I think a lot of people didn't go to the Gabba due to the weather.
13th Man
Guest
Apparently NZ games will also be at the Burswood stadium, a lot of Kiwis do live over here but I still don't think they will fill Burswood.
13th Man
Guest
Yes Tanami, absolutely agree with you on that, both the WACA and Subi's facilities are horrible. They might run express through trains like they do on the Mandurah line to Subi perhaps? 10 grand.... gee thats a lot. I'll just stick to the Dockers membership and buy tix to the cricket then.
Tom
Guest
Please, scheduling is not an issue. New Zealand have been an emerging force in test cricket over the last 12-18 months. The only reason the Broncos draw big crowds is due to the teams success, if the were to struggle for a season or two the crowds would be way down.
Paul D
Roar Guru
That's not a bad theory to be honest. Could very well be the case.
Pie Thrower
Guest
I have been noticing this at the Gabba for the last few years - it isn't as quick as it used to be. I actually think the Lions/ALF have a bit to do with this. A few years back a lot of the AFL boys were complaining the square was too hard and they were getting injured too often. I was hazard a guess that there is a LOT more watering of the square going on to make it softer for the winter - surely this has to have an impact on the way they can prepare a pitch when the summer comes around - especially given that the Gabba test is so early in the year - it hasn't had all summer to bake in the sun and dry out and harden up??
Freo As
Guest
Is it ironic that we are paying due homage to the ANZAC spirit, but so willing to relegate something so uniquely Australian for the sake of some extra shade, shorter cues for the lavs and softer seats?
Ryan Buckland
Expert
Oh. $10,000 each. Well. Perhaps not then.