Built: 1890
The WACA Ground is situated in Perth, Western Australia, and is predominantly used for cricket and Australia Rules football.
It will host five group fixtures at the 2020 Women’s T20 World
Cup and holds 20,000 people.
The WACA has been Western Australia’s home since 1899.
Although first-class cricket has been played there ever since, the ground did not host its first Test match until 1970 when England came to visit. The teams could not be separated as Kent’s Brian Luckhurst became the first man to score a Test ton at the WACA.
The ground has witnessed some memorable innings over the years. On his Test debut in 1995, Ricky Ponting hit 96 against Sri Lanka to announce himself as an international cricketer. Seventeen years later, In Ponting’s final Test, Hashim Amla and AB de Villiers smashed centuries as South Africa hammered Australia by 309 runs.
One of the ground’s most famous innings came in 1992 when an 18-year-old Sachin Tendulkar tamed Craig McDermott and Merv Hughes on one of the quickest wickets in the world to score 114. Many still regard it as one of Tendulkar’s finest knocks. And it is hard to forget Adam Gilchrist’s stunning century against England in December 2006, scoring it off just 57 deliveries.
Two women have scored Test centuries at the WACA, both coming in the same match. In December 1984, Jan Brittin’s knock of 112 for England was followed up by Jill Kennare hitting 103 to help Australia seal a draw. More recently, Meg Lanning scored 104 to help Australia hammer their oldest rivals by nine wickets.
The bowlers have enjoyed plenty of success at the WACA, too. Glenn McGrath picked up a hat-trick against West Indies in December 2000, while in 2013, Ryan Harris delivered what has been described as the “ball of the century” when his perfect in-swinger knocked over Alastair Cook with the first ball of the innings.
In 2017, the WACA was retired
from all men’s international cricket as a new 60,000-seater stadium opened up
just down the road - later to be named as Optus Stadium. Jonny Bairstow, Dawid Malan, Mitchell Marsh and Steve Smith
all scored centuries in a fitting farewell. However, the stadium remains part
of the women’s game and will host its maiden WT20I as the World Cup arrives in
Perth.
In October 2003, Matthew Hayden made history by smashing 380 against Zimbabwe.
It was the highest individual score ever made in a Test innings, surpassing the 375 Brian Lara scored against England in April 1994.
Although Lara went on to break
the record by scoring 400 not out just six months later, again against England,
Hayden’s remarkable innings remains the highest by an Australian.
Address: WACA Ground, Gate 2, Nelson Crescent East Perth 6004, Western Australia
Train: Perth train station, located on Wellington Street, is just a four-minute drive from the WACA or a 25-minute walk, if you prefer.
Parking: The nearest public car park to the ground is Queens
Garden Car Park, located along Nelson Crescent. Street parking is also
available along Nelson Crescent. More information regarding parking in Perth
can be found by clicking here.
Bus: The TransPerth CAT buses are free for all visitors to the WACA. The Perth Red CAT bus stop is located on Nelson Crescent, while the Perth Yellow CAT bus stop can be found on Waterloo Crescent. A timetable can be found by clicking here. A map can be found by clicking here.
Taxi: There is a designated pick up and drop off taxi and Uber zone located on Nelson Crescent.
Cycle: There is not a secure lock-up area inside the ground
for cycles. There are racks located in Queens Gardens Car Park, however.
The WACA is renowned for being
one of the quickest pitches in the world and will test the batter’s ability to
play pace. Spinners will need to generate extra bounce if they are to succeed.
Take
in the views of the Perth skyline while dinning on the edge of Matilda Bay
($50-$100)
3 Hackett Drive, Crawley, Perth, Western Australia, 6009
C Restaurant
Dine
33 floors high and enjoy a panoramic view of the city in Perth’s only
revolving restaurant ($90-$150)
Level 33, 44 St Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, 6000
Pretzel
Enjoy
the finest pretzels Perth has to offer ($5-$15)
Northbridge, 49 James Street Northbridge, Perth, Western Australia, 6003
My Bayon
Superb
Asian food at a reasonable price ($20-$40)
313 William Street, Northbridge, Perth, Western Australia, 6003
Tuck Shop Café
Make
sure you visit one of Perth’s best cafes ($10-£30)
178 Newcastle Street, Perth, Western Australia, 6000
Kings Park and Botanic Garden
Explore
one of the world’s largest and most picturesque inner-city parks (free)
Fraser
Avenue, Perth, Western Australia 6005
The Bell Tower
This
unique tower gives you a fascinating insight into the history of bells
(from £10)
Barrack
Square, Swan River Foreshore, Corner Riverside Drive & Barrack Street,
Perth, Western Australia 6000
Art Gallery of Western Australia
Enjoy
the best art Western Australia has to offer, dating back to 1829 (free)
James Street Mall Via Roe Street, Perth Cultural Centre, Northbridge, Perth, Western Australia 6003
Hula Bula Bar
Enjoy exotic surrounds
while drinking a classic tiki cocktail
12 Victoria Avenue,
Perth, Western Australia, 6000
Mechanics Institute
Grab a drink at this
sophisticated roof-top bar
222 William Street, Northbridge, Perth, Western Australia, 6000
Helvetica
A range of boutique,
local and international beers can be found here
Rear 101 St Georges Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, 6000
Halford
Experience the 1950s in
this elegant basement bar
Hay Street & Cathedral Avenue, Perth, Western Australia, 6000
Plain Street Bar
This modern take on a
regular bar is perfect if you don’t want any fuss
99 Adelaide Terrace, Perth, Western Australia, 6004
Swan River
This stunning waterway winds its way from the Darling Scarp to Fremantle (free)
Riverside Drive, Perth City Foreshore, Perth, Western Australia 6000
Scitech
An educational science centre located in the heart of Perth (free)
Sutherland Street, West Perth, Perth, Western Australia 6005, Australia
The Guinness World Record for the highest basketball shot
was recorded at the WACA in 2011. The ball was thrown from the top of a
floodlight and landed straight in the basket 70 metres below.
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