The opening test of the summer should be five action-pack days of test cricket on a bouncy deck at Perth Stadium.
Instead, we are reduced to gimmicks and the possibility of another low crowd watching Australia and Pakistan in the searing cake tin.
ABC cricket broadcaster Jim Maxwell criticised the attempt to convert a football stadium into a cricket ground, suggesting to just go back to the WACA.
There has been difficulty in getting West Australians to attend red ball contests at Perth Stadium. If only 5124 people turn up for an AFL contest, questions would be raised about the suitability of the venue for hosting events.
Can Test cricket at Perth Stadium bring the crowds back?(Paul Kane – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images/Getty Images)
However, for cricket matches, the number of empty or filled seats is not a concern as everything comes down to profit, as seen during the Cricket World Cup.
On Monday, it was reported that an artificial hill would be constructed at Perth Stadium, which would accommodate 500 patrons at a time and give it a WACA vibe.
In the future, if the test match is played at the WACA, it would still be considered a suitable cricket ground. Sometimes, a smaller stadium with a smaller crowd creates a better product for TV and live audiences.
Even when half-full, the atmosphere remains lively in England’s smaller venues with capacities between 30,000 and 10,000 people.
A return to the original home of cricket in Western Australia could be a circuit breaker.
The WACA is rich in history, from its iconic pitch to its light towers.
With a $75 million makeover that will turn it into a 10,000-seat boutique venue, why not go back to where test cricket is played in Western Australia?
If test cricket were not played at the Gabba, there would be resentment from all cricket fans.
Marnus Labuschagne bats against the West Indies at Perth Stadium in 2022. (Photo by Quinn Rooney – CA/Cricket Australia via Getty Images)
The Gabba is set to have its own remodel due to Olympic hosting duties, which will impact both AFL and cricket.
This year’s upcoming test match against Pakistan will be another acid test for the Perth Stadium which has not had the full backing of the cricket public in the past years.
The series itself will be headlined by David Warner’s farewell tour and a resurgent Pakistan side, which will be looking to change the narrative of past Pakistan sides that have struggled in Australia in past series.
Pat Cummins’ side will host the West Indies in a later series, who have been in shambles since missing the World Cup, leading to another ugly series where the Aussies could embarrass another poor Windies side.
But the cricket gods could change the fate – you never know.
Pakistan’s World Cup form is looking good and could take that in this year’s summer series.
After last year’s series, the West Indies hopefully learned their lessons and may challenge a test side, which could be experimenting with different players.
With an expected feast of cricket set to hit the Aussie Summer, the Perth test could be long forgotten once the last ball is bowled in March. However, let’s hope it is remembered for all the right reasons.
erin fogarty
Roar Rookie
#1 Where did you get the 5k figure of the AFL crowd? Surely that's way off the mark? Unless you are referring to AFLW? #2 When did we become so negative? Perth is called Dullsville, god help the people who try and change anything for a bit of fun and excitement to the cricket, what's wrong with the West Test idea? We're playing Pakistan so I'd say a crowd of 20k per day would be the norm, let's see how it goes..
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
It's because even with low-draw teams, 50k people are still going to attend days 1 and 2 of the boxing test. You can't risk that in Perth.
Ed Flanders
Roar Rookie
Chicken and egg I guess Prove you will even moderately attend a non-marquee match before they risk putting a marquee match on in front of a small crowd. People won't even turn up to South African tests there and half of Perth speaks Afrikaans these days.
Patrick Morrow
Roar Guru
Very true, the problem is it depends on what Cricket Australia think about in terms of product and its quality to the punters and also it is very hard to change people minds when it comes to venues changes especially when it is the Boxing Day or new years test.
Kris
Roar Rookie
The Adelaide Day-Night Test has proved that the Boxing Day Test need not be the only major event on the local Test Cricket schedule. Perth Stadium was touted as the second best outdoor stadium in the country, and understandably so. The (older) MCG doesn't require an imitation of the Old Embankment to be constructed for cricket — the event itself needs to be built up into a well-hyped date on the local social calendar.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
It was billed as an all year round venue but from what I gather, is great for footy, but terrible for cricket. The fact the organisers even think they need to build a fake hill tells me they know this Test is going to be a financial lemon. The problem is, the other suggestions mentioned in this piece are probably not an option because there needs to be a return on the investment from this stadium. Maybe they can resurrect some of those cardboard cutouts of people that were used at some grounds during covid!
Micko
Roar Rookie
The WACA & CA offer no discounts for multiple days, and are only now investing in making the stadium more appropriate for a test match. Why weren't multiple grass banks and shade cloths part of the design for Test matches, ODI's & T20's at Optus???
Micko
Roar Rookie
How about we get a locked in schedule like Boxing Day or New Years, and a marquee opponent to assess the crowds Patrick???
mrl
Roar Rookie
Matildas seem to be the only National team which sells out in Perth.
Kizman
Roar Rookie
I wanna watch a competitive series, but it'll be hard to see Pak winning any of the tests. They havnt won a test here since the 95 series, and have lost 14 tests in a row in Aus. Only chance they'll have is if the curator serves up a raging greentop like last yrs Gabba test and the game becomes a bowler shootout. Always loved the view at the Waca, its a shame they'll hardly play anymore internationals there anymore.