WACA (Perth)

The WACA has been referred to as Western Australia's home of cricket for over a century, with Test cricket played at the ground since the 1970–71 season. The ground in Perth was first opened in 1890.

While it has predominantly cricket being played at the venue, it has also been used for a range of other sports, including athletics carnivals, Australian rules football, baseball, rugby league, and rugby union. As well as association football.

Perry Lakes Stadium, built for 1962 Commonwealth Games, staged the first Australia men’s international in the city in November 1975, which ended in a scoreless draw with the Soviet Union.

June 1995 saw the Socceroos lose by the only goal to Ghana at the WACA in a friendly match. This proved to be the only major match played at the venue. With the opening of Perth Stadium in Burswood in 2018, far fewer major occasions are likely to be staged at the WACA going forward.

My visit

England v Australia (Thursday 28th November – Sunday 1st December 2002) Third Test

Arriving in Perth full of eager anticipation, despite England losing the first two Tests, I couldn’t wait to explore and get to know the place. I’d travelled into town on my first day to buy an additional suit for the match and decided my backpackers' place in Scarborough was not up to scratch.

I’d checked in at somewhere far swankier, with not many places still available, with it having three bedrooms. One for each night of the match as it transpired. It was close to the WACA, which I needed to attend the day before the match to collect my free tickets organised by my boss at the MCC at Lord’s before heading to Ascot Races.

I caught up with Justin Langer, my pal from his time playing for Middlesex, who’d just finished in the nets. It was as bright as it would get cricket-wise. England were hammered by an innings and 48 runs in three days. Despite this, there were many highlights as I enjoyed my surroundings. 

Sitting in the area by the players, with Rob, Justin’s brother, taking care of me. I wish I knew his cricketing background and involvement with WSC back then. The hospitality in the corporate areas for lunch, including the Bradman Lounge and lunching with Derek Underwood, among others.

The kindness of an elder couple on the committee at Durham, who saw how nervous I was, relaxed me. The friendship of former Lord’s PA man Alan Curtis was a massive help. Alex Tudor getting plonked on the head by Brett Lee certainly stuck in the memory, as I thought it had killed him at first.

Michael Vaughan, remembering who I was and being friendly, was certainly nice, while the session with my mates in Northbridge post-play on top of what I’d consumed at the ground made the following morning interesting. I even sneaked a look at Gloucester Park trotting track over the road.

My one regret was not going to the Perth Glory match against Parramatta Power after day two at the cricket, but I was worn out by then, still battling jetlag as well as nursing a hangover. The game ended 2-1 in front of 9,203 fans at Perth Oval.