Published: March 5, 2026 at 5:23 pm
As the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) ground stages it’s final Test, I thought it might be worthwhile to recall some personal sentiments about this historic venue.
The WACA is arguably the most singular cricket ground in the world given the lore over its fast and bouncy pitch which has conjured some of the sport’s most visceral images. The ground’s harsh innards, in some ways, contributed to its mystique.
My first memory of the WACA ground dates back to India’s tour of Australia in 1991-92. India was to play a five-Test series, a triangular One-day International (ODI) tournament which included the West Indies apart from India and Australia, and finally the World Cup.
WACA ground had made a mark in my heart
ODI cricket in Australia has always been a compelling spectacle. So, the first encounter at Perth was inevitably the talk of the town. Tendulkar defended six runs, as Mohd Azharuddin pulled of a spectacular catch millimetres off the ground to get rid of Anderson Cummins and tie the game. Two days later, Ravi Shastri’s five for 12 gave India a memorable win out of nowhere. With the very first two matches that I saw being so positive, the WACA ground had already made a mark for itself in my heart.
The WACA is arguably the most singular cricket ground in the world given the lore over its fast and bouncy pitch which has conjured some of the sport’s most visceral images. Pic: India.com
In the final Test of the series, Tendulkar produced the best of his 51 centuries. For me, it was a great innings because he was the lone battler amidst pretenders and because of the fearless stroke-play. Everybody was speaking about the technicalities and why it was difficult to bat against the Australian quicks, due to the extra bounce at the WACA.
My eyes were not trained to pick up the nuances practically just yet. When I started understanding the game better, I was surprised to know that Malcolm Marshall was not exactly a fan of the WACA pitch. For a hostile quick bowler, pace and bounce are the best allies. But Marshall’s argument was that because of the lift, it was almost impossible to get LBWs in his favour. This taught me that there is more to wicket-taking than just running in and swinging or turning the ball.
Greg Chappell made his debut in the first Test at WACA
As I kept learning more about grounds and their history, I was fascinated to know that the WACA was the youngest amongst Australia’s famous five Test Venues. The first Test was played during the 1970 Ashes; coincidentally that was also Greg Chappell’s Test debut. Chappell went on to score a match saving century in that game.
A genuinely exhilarating match for all Indians was the 2008 Test. Immediately after the ugly Sydney Test, there was high voltage drama. To remain alive in the series, and for matter of pride, India had to win the Test. Of all venues in Australia, Perth held the least probability. Irfan Pathan showed credible all-round abilities in all four innings, but it was a legitimate team effort that won the match for India.
https://x.com/WACA_Cricket/status/2011281709908865143?s=20
This was not a match for individual brilliance, but for cohesive efforts of the 11 players on the field and the entire support staff in the dressing room. The win was not just about excellence in cricketing terms; it was a message of accomplishing the most formidable task against all odds.
My fascination for the WACA was tested after my migration to Australia. Till the time Test matches were played regularly, I had no occasion to go to Perth. But over the last three years, I have been visiting Perth frequently for professional reasons. But Test cricket had moved on to the new Optus Stadium since 2018. Of course, the Optus Stadium is a magnificent beast. But for me, the nostalgia takes precedence over facilities. I had hoped that similar to the MCG and the SCG, the WACA might also entertain visitors for a guided tour; a museum or a library would be a bonus. However, 18 months ago, the ground administration told me that the guided tours had stopped and the museum was closed to visitors, due to the redevelopment projects.
For an Indian settled in Australia, it couldn’t get more personal than these two nations in contest. And don’t forget, it is a day and night affair, to illuminate the proceedings – literally and figuratively!
The last men’s international played at the ground was the Ashes Test in 2017, a match best remembered for Mitchell Starc’s remarkable delivery that clean bowled James Vince off a crack and a premature end to Day Four due to an unseasonal storm.
WACA is almost the midpoint between the airport and my usual hotel; so, every time I passed by, I would inevitably curse my luck for not even being able to enter the ground. During the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series of 2024-25, Team India was preparing at the WACA. The premises were shut for outsiders, so the agony was severe.
But then, the cricket god’s have always been kind to me. Since I am also keen on women’s cricket, I have been following the Australian Summer’s cricket calendar with dual lenses. Having watched all the six Test matches from the grounds last summer (BGT + Women’s Ashes Test), I was curious about this year. Turns out, the Indian women were scheduled to play a full-fledged series, with the culmination being the Test match at Perth. Not just Perth, but at the WACA…!!! Destiny’s child or what…!?!
This time it’s all about the ground
For the Test match commencing on March 6, 2026, the notification was issued in early June 2025, and I bought tickets on the same day. The last summer’s adventures had made a significant dent into my financial reserves, but this was an event I could not forgo at any expense, financial or otherwise.
The WACA will now transform into a high-performance hub, a counterpart to the Junction Oval in Melbourne and Allan Border Field in Brisbane, and a multi-sport community facility that includes a cafe and public gym
Actually, the ticket prices for this match are pittance compared to last year, but the travel and accommodation rates are not. I am incredibly lucky to have a boss and colleagues who not only understand my passion but support me in realising it fully.
Meeting the players is purely a matter of luck. One has to respect many factors, none the least, the security concerns. Last summer I had the great fortune of meeting the great Lisa Sthalekar and almost all of the Australian Test players. This time around, who knows…
WACA to host its final Test
But this time, it is all about being at that historical ground. The WACA will be hosting a Test match one last time. For an Indian settled in Australia, it couldn’t get more personal than these two nations in contest. And don’t forget, it is a day and night affair, to illuminate the proceedings – literally and figuratively!
The WACA will now transform into a high-performance hub, a counterpart to the Junction Oval in Melbourne and Allan Border Field in Brisbane, and a multi-sport community facility that includes a cafe and public gym.
Raghunath Bukkapatnam is senior manager-quality risk & compliance and travels extensively across Victoria, Sydney and Perth. He lives in Melbourne. Opinions expressed are personal.
