WACA – One of the best cricketing grounds in the world where every fast bowler has a dream about to bowl. This venue is famous for extreme pace and bounce where every batsman running for money needs to have a solid technique and patience to get adapted to these conditions from the first session to the final session of a day in red-ball cricket especially. The first test match at WACA ground was played in 1970-71 season. The WACA ground is the territory of the team Western Cricket Australia (who is the part of Big Bash League). The WACA ground pitch is heaven for the swing and fast bowlers in the afternoon season. Even the outfield is very fast of this venue which makes it a batting paradise for batsmen who adapt to the conditions and also have the record of nine fastest test hundreds came at this venue.
The last test match at this venue was played in December 2017 between Australia and England followed by the last ODI in January 2017 between Australia and Pakistan. While the last T20l was played between Australia and Sri Lanka in October 2010. Currently this venue is not part of any international matches (Test match, ODI and T20l matches) to be played due to low revenue in the past.
Having said, let us take a look at the four best memories at the WACA ground.
ADAM GILCHRIST 57-BALL CENTURY:
The famous Ashes series rivalry, 2005 with Australia already 2-0 up in the contest. England had to win their third test match to keep themselves alive in the series. Australia won the toss and decided to bat but they have been restricted to 244 in the first innings. The tourist (England) was looking to set the tone for revenge but they forgot it was Australian era and they have destroyed every opposition who have stood in his way. England was bundled out at the score of 215 in their first innings.
The second innings of Australia was the glimpsed of their dominance when they have declared their innings at 527 for the 5 wickets which were contributed by Mathew Hayden (92), Ricky Ponting (75), Michael Hussey (103), Michael Clarke 135* and Adam Gilchrist 100* who remained unbeaten. Gilchrist innings featured 12 fours and 4 sixes which came at the strike rate of 172.88 and England once again restricted at the score of 350 runs in their second innings and lost the match by 206 runs and series too by 5-0 in the end.
MATHEW HAYDEN 380 CAREER BEST SCORE:
Zimbabwe tour of Australia 2003. It was those days when playing against Australia in their own territory was the most difficult thing for any visiting team. But surprisingly the Zimbabwe who are known as “minnows” tour to Australia for a 2-match test series. Before the start of test series Zimbabwe was the part of VB series 2003-04 which were played among India, Australia and Zimbabwe. The VB series was won Australia after defeating India in the best of the three finals.
The first test match started after Australia won the toss and decided to bat first. Australia from the start of their first innings dominated the opposition in every department and declared their innings at the score of 735 for the loss of 7 wickets. Mathew Hayden innings was the highlight of the match and series when he registered his career best score of 380 runs after surpassing the Brian Lara record of 375 runs.
In reply Zimbabwe never managed to cross 350 runs in any of their innings and lost the match by 175 runs and an innings. Later on they series too by 2-0 and Mathew Hayden was awarded with Man of the series for 501 runs in 4 innings.
SOUTH AFRICA CREATED THE HISTORY IN THE MASSIVE RUN-CHASE:
South Africa tour of Australia 2008 for 3 test matches. It was not the best Australian teams as key players were not the part of it. No Shane Warne, Adam Gilchrist and Glenn McGrath made the task easy for the opposition. It was the first test match of the series and Australia after winning the toss decided to bat first and they have scored a decent score of 375 runs in their first innings.
In reply South Africa was restricted at the score of 281 runs with the top-notch bowling spell from Mitchell Johnson who took 8 for 61 runs. After the collapse and fall of the wickets Australia has scored 319 in their second innings to set the impossible target of 414 runs in the fourth innings for South Africa.
The tourists had the plans to write the history and that's what they had done after they chased down the target of 414 runs for the loss of 4 wickets in the fourth innings and took the 1-0 lead in the series and later went on to win the series too by 2-1. The captain like Graeme Smith was the big reason South had created history in the big run chase for his never say die attitude.
CURTLY AMBROSE 7 FOR 1 AGAINST AUSTRALIA:
West Indies tour of Australia 1993. One of the best bowlers Curtly Ambrose ever had produced by West Indies after the great Andy Roberts, Malcolm Marshall, Michael Holding and Joel Garner. Curtly Ambrose bowling was the highlight of a 5-match test series who took 33 wickets. The series 1-1 after West Indies won the fourth test match by 1 run.
The decider of the series was the fifth and final test match as Australia decided to bat first after winning the toss and looked to David Boon to take the bail once again who was leading run scorer with 490 runs. But Curtly Ambrose had other ideas and had produced one of the greatest spells at WACA, Perth with 7 for 1 run while restricting Australia at the score of 119 runs in the first innings.
In reply West Indies scored 322 in their first innings with the brilliant innings of 80 runs from Simmons. While in the second innings the home team was restricted to the score of 178 runs and lost the match by 25 runs and an innings. West Indies won the test series by 2-1 and Curtly Ambrose was awarded Man of the series for picking up 33 wickets in the series.
