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The last hurrah for the WACA

1st November, 2016
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The WACA scoreboard at the Cricket World Cup. (Photo: Wiki Commons)
Expert
1st November, 2016
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When Australian skipper Steve Smith tosses the coin tomorrow, and South African Faf du Plessis calls, it will be the start of the 43rd Test at the WACA, the last one against a big cricketing nation at the famous ground.

Next year the Ashes Test could well be played at the yet to be completed Perth Stadium at Burswood with a seating capacity of 60,000, well in advance of the WACA ground record of 34,317 for an AFL preliminary final clash in 1994 between the Eagles and Melbourne.

All following internationals against South Africa and India will be moved to Perth Stadium, although matches against smaller cricketing nations – those which are expected to draw a crowd of less than 15,000 per day – will remain at the WACA.

There will be many memories from the WACA, starting with the first Ashes Test in 1970 where England’s opening batman Brian Luckhurst scored the first century, but it was Greg Chappell on debut who grabbed the headlines.

He was in the 90s when the ABC crossed to a rural report and returned live after Chappell had passed his century. The ABC switchboard went into meltdown when thousands of angry cricket lovers rang to complain.

While Luckhurst’s 131 off 301 deliveries was the first at the famous ground, Adam Voges’ 119 off 240 in 2015 was the last of 83 centurions.

The highest was Matt Hayden’s then-world record 380 off 437 against Zimbabwe in October 2003.

The first ODI century honour belongs to West Indian left-hander Larry Gomes with 101 off 89 on 2 February 1985.

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The last of 25 ODI centuries was Steve Smith’s 149 off 135 last summer against India.

The best bowling belongs to two Australian pace legends – Glenn McGrath, and Dennis Lillee.

McGrath’s 8-24 against Pakistan was in 2004, while Lillee’s 8-29 against the Rest of the World was in 1971.

Giant West Indian Curtley Ambrose came close. At one stage he had 7-1, ending up with 7-25 against Australia in 1993.

The two Test hat-tricks belong to Australians Merv Hughes, and McGrath.

Hughes’ was against the West Indies in 1981, McGrath’s was also against the Windies in 2000, and included his 300th Test wicket.

Australia celebrate winning the 2013/14 Ashes series against England, regaining the urn

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But there are many other magic memories of the WACA, such as Doug Walters’ massive six in 1974 off Bob Willis’ last delivery of the day, that gave Walters a century in the session.

In 1975, West Indian opening batsman Roy Fredericks smashed a Test ton off 70 deliveries on his way to 160, the biggest score at the time at the WACA by a visitor.

England’s only win at the WACA was a Test in 1978 where David Gower scored 108 and Rodney Hogg captured ten wickets.

In 1979, Lillee strode to the crease with an aluminium bat. After ten minutes and three runs, England captain Mike Brearley complained the bat was damaging the ball, and the umpires forced Lillee to bat with the traditional willow.

Lillee was again involved in 1981 with his toe to toe confrontation with Pakistani Javed Miandad. Lillee was fined and suspended for two matches, but ‘Mum and Dad’ got off scot free.

In 1990, NSW twins Steve and Mark Waugh shared an unbroken 454-run partnership that is still the Sheffield Shield record. Western Australians Adam Voges and Liam Davis shared a 343-run partnership in 2012 against NSW.

In 2006, Adam Gilchrist blasted a Test ton in 57 deliveries, at the time just one delivery more than Viv Richards’ world record, set in 1985.

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In more recent times, David Warner has played two epic innings – a Test ton in 69 deliveries in 2012 against India, and 253 last summer against New Zealand, where Ross Taylor at last played a superb dig of 290 for the Kiwis.

So the Test starting tomorrow at the WACA has plenty to live up to in a three-Test series that means so much to both sides.

Correction: This article originally stated the Test against South Africa will be the final Test at the WACA. This has now been corrected.

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