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The Western Australia Cricket Association ground commonly known as WACA has been a pinnacle in the world of cricket. WACA’s wicket is famous as the fastest wicket in the world. As the Burswood stadium gets ready in a couple of years WACA ground is all set to bid adios to international cricket.Preened on the banks of Swan River, the WACA ground has maintained its glory over the years. Fast bowlers always enjoyed bowling at the WACA. With modern cricket drifting in the batsman’s favour, WACA was one spot which bowlers treasured.Over the years, it has provided many spectacular moments across all formats of the game. As WACA signs off from international cricket let’s take a look at some of those unforgettable moments at this venue.
#1 A close encounter- India vs Australia 1977
India won the 1st test on Aussie soil at Melbourne during the tour of 1977. It could well have been Perth instead of Melbourne for India’s first test victory over Aussies in their own backyard.
This was only the 2nd test at WACA and also 2nd test of that series. Australia managed to chase down the target of 339 with just 2 wickets to spare. It was indeed an iconic test match which went down to the wire for a nail-biting finish.
India scored 402 in the 1st innings and the hosts replied well with 396 as the Aussie captain Bob Simpson scored a gutsy 176. India once again piled up runs on board as Gavaskar and Amarnath scored tons in the 2nd innings.
But the real hero of that match was Bishan Singh Bedi. On a wicket that was known for fast bowling, Bedi took fifers in both innings taking India to close to what could have been a historic win. Chasing 339 Aussies were 330 for 6. Win was just around the corner but Bedi chipped in to dismiss Toohey and Rixon which was last recognized pair for Aussies. To add some flavor in this situation, the game was in the last 10 overs of play on day 5!
Eventually, the Aussie tail enders managed to secure victory with just 2 overs to spare. India went on to win the next 2 tests but lost the final one. It was 3-2 Australia and that was the closest India has ever got to win a series on Aussie soil. Such was the importance of that 2nd test at WACA.
#2 Tendulkar\'s adroitness against pace
India’s tour of Australia in 1991-92 was full of debacles for the visiting team. Having already lost 3 out of 4 matches, India was yet to face the biggest test on tour. The WACA pitch was in it’s heydays for the pace and bounce it offered.
Sachin Tendulkar- a 19-year-old lad - had already made some reputation for himself with his refulgent batting across the world. But perhaps it was first time he was playing on the fastest bowling wicket in world.
India were 69 for 2 in reply to Australia’s 346 in the first innings. In walked this prodigy from India who was well aware of the challenge. McDermott, Whitney and Merv Hughes were showing hostility by making full use of WACA’s bouncy surface. They had demolished the Indian batting line up to reduce India to 159 for 8.
Sachin showed great courage to not only survive the incandescent spells from Aussie quicks but also hanged in there with a brilliant half-century. With big names like Vengsarkar, Srikanth and Azharuddin failing to survive on the toughest pitch, this 19-year-old lad was giving it back to the Australian bowlers.
From 159 for 8 Sachin made a partnership with Kiran More and took the score to 240. More made 43 which was the 2nd highest score after Sachin’s magnificent 114 in that innings. India eventually lost that test match but Sachin Tendulkar had passed the biggest test of his career at such a young age.
#3 Ambrose\'s Apotheosis at WACA
The Frank Worrell Trophy was the best contest one could see in test cricket during the early 90’s. West Indies and Australia were top teams in test cricket during that period. This series was well poised with such a background. Rightly so, it was all even as the scoreline read 1-1 after 4 test matches.
Eventually it all came down to WACA for a winner takes all match. A thrifty competition was expected but Aussies had a taste of their own medicine, which cost them a series. They were 85 for 2 as Mark Waugh and David Boon were looking to build a big partnership.
Ambrose came back for his 2nd spell and within no time he was all over the Aussie batsmen. He bowled a excellent line and produced bounce off the wicket. Ambrose ran through the Aussie batting line up to dismiss them for 119.
During that spell of he gave away just one run to end up with figures of 7 wickets for 1 run in 32 balls. West Indies won that test match on the 3rd day itself to seal the series. Ironically, the groundsman at the WACA was dismissed for preparing a wicket that had given the visiting team an advantage.
#4 Tied ODI - India vs West Indies
This was a low scoring thriller at WACA. Given the seamer friendly nature of WACA’s wicket, West Indian captain Richie Richardson opted to bowl first. It was perfect call as West Indian bowling line up had Patterson, Marshall, Cummins and Ambrose who always enjoyed bowling at WACA.
Indian batsman couldn’t resist the outstanding fast bowling on WACA’s trampoline. Indian innings ended for 126. Ravi Shastri top scored with 33 in 110 balls. Only 2 boundaries were scored in the Indian innings, both by Shastri.
West Indies had an experienced batting line up consisting of Haynes, Richardson, Hooper and Lara. At any other venue even a thought of India defending 126 would have been quixotic but not at WACA. Kapil Dev struck with the 1st ball to dismiss Haynes. Indian bowlers kept on picking wickets at regular interval and West Indies were all out just a run short for victory.
This match also highlighted Azharuddin’s captaincy. India were playing with 4 specialist fast bowlers. Azhar kept rotating them till all of them had finished their quota of 10 overs. With still 10 overs to spare West Indies needed 6 to win having just one wicket in hand. Azhar turned to young Tendulkar who gave away 5 runs and took a wicket on the last ball of his over, as the match ended in a tie.
#5 A Narrow escape for Aussies- Zimbabwe vs Australia
Zimbabwe defeated Australia when these two teams met for the first time in 1983 world cup. After that the 2nd victory for Zimbabwe came recently in 2014. Australia dominated all ODIs between that period – except one.
Australia had a narrow escape at WACA in 2001 when Zimbabwe lost by 1 run. It was a high scoring game and certainly one of the best ODIs ever played. Australia chose to bat first and Damien Martyn scored 144 as Australia amassed 302 in 50 overs.
In reply Zimbabwe lost 3 wickets for 91 till the 20th over. Stuart Carlise and Grant Flower came to the rescue with a partnership of 187 between them for 4th wicket. Australian bowlers struck back to break the partnership. 15 runs were required off the last over which was to be bowled by Glenn McGrath.
The stage was set for Douglas Marillier, the name that no one had heard before. He played a couple of extemporaneous shots to collect 2 boundaries off McGrath’s 1st 3 deliveries. He scored those two boundaries with the paddle scoop shot. That was the first time when cricket world saw such kind of an improvisation.
Marillier’s cameo was not enough to end the drought of victory against Aussies, Mcgrath held his line for 3 balls. But WACA had yet again witnessed a great cricket encounter.
#6 Hayden\'s Herculean knock of 380
Mathew Hayden made a world record when he scored 380 runs at WACA in the 1st test match of the Southern Cross trophy. Zimbabwe won the toss and elected to field. They hardly had an idea of what was coming their way.
On 1st day till tea he was not out on 76. It was then that he decided to go against the fairly inexperienced bowling attack of Zimbabwe. By the end of the day, he was not out on 183, with the last 83 runs coming in just 53 balls. After end of day one, Australian physio asked Hayden how he was feeling after arduous day of batting in the sun. Replied Hayden, “180, no problems. I’ll turn it into 380 tomorrow.”
On day 2 he surpassed various records one by one. First he went passed 203 which was his highest score in test cricket. After that he scored a triple century and overtook Don Bradman’s 334. It was just a matter of time in which he broke Brian Lara’s record and reached an apogee to register the then highest individual score in test cricket. Finally Zimbabwe players managed to dismiss him on 380.
Hayden said this when he talked about his spectacular knock “One thing I will always appreciate about that innings was the amazing reaction I received from the Australian public. To hear people say they stopped work as I got close to the mark and that they’d remember that moment all their lives was heart-warming, and I tried to give something back to them by being as open as I could about the joy and pride I felt that day.”
Brian Lara too congratulated him for his achievements. Though a year later Lara broke the record once again, this innings from Matthew Hayden remains one of the marquee knocks ever played at WACA.
#7 Chris Gayle\'s Blitzkrieg
Chris Gayle enjoyed a purple patch during West Indies’ tour of Australia in 2009. In the 3rd test at Perth, he scored 102. Nothing special for a man who has 2 triple centuries under his belt. But this knock was special because of the way he batted on bouncy track facing Johnson and Bollinger who were in top form.
Australia put 520 on board and were all set to take 20 wickets to win the series. Gayle counter-attacked from the 1st ball. He scored 102 in just 72 balls with 9 fours and 6 massive sixes. Gayle got out in the 25th over when the score was 136. Oh just a reminder, it was a test match! That means the other guy and extras scored just 34
After all those heroics of Gayle, West Indies fell short by 35 runs. That was a fabulous display of stroke play on the bowler friendly pitch by the maestro. Gayle won the Man of the match as well as man of the series award, though Australia won the series 2-0.
#8 South Africa chasing down 414
South Africa made history when they chased down 414 against Australia at WACA. That was the 2nd highest successful run chase and the highest on Australian soil.
Opting to bat Australia scored 375. In reply to that South Africa could only manage 281 as none of their batsmen could convert the starts into big innings. With important lead of 94 runs Australia looked well set to win the test match. They were dismissed for 319 in 2nd innings leaving 414 for South Africans to chase.
With 5 sessions in hand the target looked gettable yet not easy. In 4th innings first it was Captain Smith and then AB de Villiers who rose to the occasion scoring centuries. Amla, Kallis and debutant JP Duminy played supportive roles with each scoring half centuries.
It was an incredible comeback by the Proteas. They carried this momentum in the next games to win the series 2-1. This still remains the 2nd highest successful run chase in test cricket. After 1991-92 Frank Worrell trophy, this was the first time that Australia had lost a series on home soil.
#9 South Africa does it again, winning by 309 runs
South Africans enjoyed playing at WACA. With first 2 games ending in draw, this was a series decider at WACA. In this match WACA’s pitch showed its sporting nature. It assisted bowlers in 1st 2 innings but then became better for batting in 3rd and 4th innings. South Africans took advantage of this as they registered back to back series victories in Australia.
South Africa made an audacious decision to bat first on lively WACA wicket. They were all out for 225, still a good score on pitches like WACA. Steyn and Philander ran through the Aussie batting line up to reduce them to 45 for 6. Their novice wicket keeper Mathew Wade played an all important knock of 68 runs and brought Australia back into game.
However, the wicket got better and South African batsmen started scoring freely. Smith and Amla took on the Australian bowlers. Amla piled up a magnificent 196 in just 221 deliveries. It was not over for South Africans even after that as de Villiers was in déjà vu mode. He repeated his heroics from the last tour as he scored another prolific 169. South Africans scored at 5 runs an over to leave mammoth target of 632 for Aussies.
Australians never seemed to reach near the total as South Africa yet again grabbed the series. That was also the last match for Ricky Ponting. This match left lots of memories for Australians as well as for South Africans.
#10 Big Bash League Thriller-Scorchers vs Stars Semi Final
WACA has never let it’s fans down when it comes to providing a thrilling contest between bat and ball across all formats. This was an epic encounter for a spot in the final between the home team Perth Scorchers and Melbourne Stars.
It was a rain-affected game and the match was reduced to 18 overs. Scorchers opted to field after winning the toss. Cameron White and Brad Hodge, the experienced Victorian duo scored quick fire 88 and 70 respectively and took Stars to 183. That looked like a par score but Scorchers were not ready to give up.
Due to rain interruption the target for Scorchers was revised to 139 from 13 overs. Shaun Marsh brought all his experience into play. He scored 68 of 40 balls before getting out. At that stage, 38 were needed of 21 balls. Scorchers had Voges and Hussey- who had joined Scorchers just after announcing his retirement from international cricket.
10 runs were needed to win in the last over. Hussey was facing and Faulkner was the bowler. On 1st ball of that over Jackson Bird dropped Hussey at deep square leg. Hussey rushed in for a 2nd run. Singles and doubles on next 4 balls brought the equation to 3 from 1. Faulkner did everything right in bowling a wide yorker as the batsmen ran only 1. But alas! It was a no ball. Faulkner had overstepped to offer a run, an extra delivery and a free hit. Hussey finished the thing off with a six.
It was one of the most eventful matches in T20 cricket, Scorchers not only went on to win the BBL but also qualified for Champions League.
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