***Official*** 3rd Test at the WACA

[Woodster]

Reminds me that it was here four years ago that Steve Smith really established him self in the Aust team with a brilliant hundred

Been good since

Maybe this year will be the Test that ignites James Vince's Test career, kickstarted with a brilliant hundred against the odds at the WACA. Wishful thinking ?

 

[Spark]

I remember Smith being under a little pressure before that Test, which was really weird as he'd been excellent in the England and India tours, given the overall standard of Aus batting.

 

[Spark]

Not the worst outcome then.

I mean most of the WACA's appeal these days is down to nostalgia and hope that it might get back to what it once was. The actual strip that's been on show in the last few years has been absolutely dreadful, with the only sideways movement tending to come from the possibility of cracking when it gets really hot (which, to be fair, is a lot of fun, but not exactly ideal).

The pitch for the Test vs NZ was one of the worst Test pitches I've ever seen. Starc was bowling 160kmh thunderbolts, still couldn't get anyone out, and Steve Smith would probably still be late-cutting Southee and Boult to 3rd man for four if that Test were timeless.

 

[Gob]

I remember Smith being under a little pressure before that Test, which was really weird as he'd been excellent in the England and India tours, given the overall standard of Aus batting.

Missed out in the first two tests and the Adelaide dismissal in particular against Monty looked pretty bad.

 

[vcs]

I remember Smith being under a little pressure before that Test, which was really weird as he'd been excellent in the England and India tours, given the overall standard of Aus batting.

I loved Smith's ton in Sydney that series, that was a green track and he really smashed some huge sixes towards the end of the innings. Class knock.

 

[Furball]

I mean most of the WACA's appeal these days is down to nostalgia and hope that it might get back to what it once was. The actual strip that's been on show in the last few years has been absolutely dreadful, with the only sideways movement tending to come from the possibility of cracking when it gets really hot (which, to be fair, is a lot of fun, but not exactly ideal).

The pitch for the Test vs NZ was one of the worst Test pitches I've ever seen. Starc was bowling 160kmh thunderbolts, still couldn't get anyone out, and Steve Smith would probably still be late-cutting Southee and Boult to 3rd man for four if that Test were timeless.

Pretty sure that's the Test that retired Johnson as well.

 

[Spark]

Pretty sure that's Test that retired Johnson as well.

Yep, was definitely the last straw for him after two summers of dreadful pitches.

 

[Burgey]

Absolutely, they'd be talking about the camaraderie within the camp! But with that in mind, and the bad press we're getting at the moment, it's not too much to ask to keep the nights out kind of low key. Save the laddish antics till they get back to the hotel.

Best way to do these sorts of things is to rent out a venue to yourselves, or a portion of one. NRL teams have taken to doing that for Mad Mondays in an attempt to quarantine the atrocities.

 

[GotSpin]

It's run by NZT lol

Really??

 

[Furball]

Yep, was definitely the last straw for him after two summers of dreadful pitches.

I think the death of Phil Hughes and Johnson sconing Kohli at Adelaide wouldn't have helped, I'd imagine scaring the **** out of batsmen became less fun after that then you get that pitch first up the following summer and you must ask yourself what the point is.

 

[eleven]

If the pitch is as bland as has been the case recently at the WACA, is England still strong enough to eke out a draw?

 

[Starfighter]

The pitch for the Test vs NZ was one of the worst Test pitches I've ever seen. Starc was bowling 160kmh thunderbolts, still couldn't get anyone out, and Steve Smith would probably still be late-cutting Southee and Boult to 3rd man for four if that Test were timeless.

Definitely the worst pitch I've seen in my short time watching the game. There couldn't have been less for the bowler if they had used an actual billiard table. Granted I think some of Pakistan's pitches in the early-mid 00's may have been worse.

 

[the big bambino]

yeah all this crap about pride etc, representing the country is crap. how about worrying about a gameplan against lyon intead?

For what purpose if the only reason for the contest is crap?

 

[NZTailender]

Really??

Nope. I co-run "I Like Stories" on Facebook.

 

[stephen]

Definitely the worst pitch I've seen in my short time watching the game. There couldn't have been less for the bowler if they had used an actual billiard table. Granted I think some of Pakistan's pitches in the early-mid 00's may have been worse.

Nah the ones we've dished up to South Africa in recent years have been worse (last year's excluded). The test where Hodge scored a double ton was atrocious. Just flattened out as the test went on and became easy for South Africa to bat out the draw.

 

[NotMcKenzie]

Redevelopment will drag the capacity down to 10-15k. WACA will still exist for Shield matches and lower drawing Tests.

Funnily enough, the last redevelopment ('02) dragged the capacity of the ground down, and I remember low capacity being cited by C.A. as one of the problems of the ground. I don't know whether there was anything wrong with the two easternmost stands, but if not, getting rid of them mightn't have been a great idea,

 

[Starfighter]

Nah the ones we've dished up to South Africa in recent years have been worse (last year's excluded). The test where Hodge scored a double ton was atrocious. Just flattened out as the test went on and became easy for South Africa to bat out the draw.

See, I only started watching in 2009/10-ish. And at least that one wasn't completely dead the entire match.

 

[quincywagstaff]

South Africa’s record in the 2nd innings batting in WACA Tests is pretty amazing:

2005/2006: 5/287 off 126 overs to save game
2008/2009: 4/414 in a record breaking run chase
2012/2013: 569 off only 111.5 Overs
2015/2016: 8/540 declared

Also, New Zealand scored over 600 in an innings there a couple of season ago. I would hazard a guess that the top 5 highest scores Australia have conceded at home in the past decade would be at the WACA.

 

[morgieb]

South Africa’s record in the 2nd innings batting in WACA Tests is pretty amazing:

2005/2006: 5/287 off 126 overs to save game
2008/2009: 4/414 in a record breaking run chase
2012/2013: 569 off only 111.5 Overs
2015/2016: 8/540 declared

Also, New Zealand scored over 600 in an innings there a couple of season ago. I would hazard a guess that the top 5 highest scores Australia have conceded at home in the past decade would be at the WACA.

2010/11 puts paid to that notion, but of the Top 5, 3 of them were in Perth.

 

[Starfighter]

South Africa’s record in the 2nd innings batting in WACA Tests is pretty amazing:

2005/2006: 5/287 off 126 overs to save game
2008/2009: 4/414 in a record breaking run chase
2012/2013: 569 off only 111.5 Overs
2015/2016: 8/540 declared

Once again it has to be asked why we continue to schedule matches against them there.