Cricket writer Zaahier Adams is on tour Down Under with the Proteas and gives us an insight into the venue for the first Test, the famed WACA.
Perth – With all the talk about snakes from Dale Steyn leading up to this first Test it could easily be mistaken that South Africa and Australia are set to play the first Test in the Amazon jungle instead of here at the rustic WACA ground.
And while Steyn certainly got animated about his reptiles in reference to targeting Australia’s leading batsmen Steve Smith and David Warner, the only snake likely to be seen at the WACA from Thursday is the one made from empty plastic cups worming its way around the ground. The WACA was after all the beer-snake record holder from 2007 until 2013 when a thirsty SCG crowd toppled it.
That's just a smidgen of the pleasant old-school charm associated with the WACA. And while it may be in the sunset of its status as a Test venue due to the imposing 60 000-capacity Perth Stadium that will stage all major international cricket in the city from 2018 nearing completion, it remains one of cricket’s iconic venues.
The immaculately manicured grass banks differentiate it from the all the concrete that engulfs the MCG and Brisbane’s Gabba, while the manual scoreboard is a throwback to a different era.
However, it is the iconic 22-yards of parched earth in the centre of the field that bestowed the WACA with its famed reputation. It certainly was fast and furious during the days when the the great Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee ruled the Wild Wild West by storming in with his gold chain swinging from side to side to deliver thunderbolts at defenceless batsmen.
It certainly is not as lightning quick as back then, but it does remain the only actual cricket pitch used for Test cricket in Australia with all the other leading grounds now susceptible to drop-ins due to the sharing of stadiums with money-spinner “Aussie Rules” football.
One Australian batsman that is sure to be glum about the move across the road in a couple of years time will be opening batsman David Warner. The Baggy Greens lieutenant may be a Sydneysider from the East, but he does have astute knowledge of the WACA pitch. It stems from scoring bucket loads of runs here with the explosive left-hander having hitting back-to-back centuries in his last two Test appearances at this ground.
The last one was particularly impressive with Warner showing neighbours New Zealand who really is the big brother through a remarkable 253 off just 286 balls. This innings, in addition to a 180 against India here back in 2012, provides the bedrock of Warner’s amazing average of 95.85 at this ground.
“When you see that sheen on the WACA, you know it will be a fast wicket. We're hoping to see that because we love that contest with bat on ball,” the vice-captain explained.
“I think traditionally in the last few years I've been playing here it's lacked that zip. You go back a couple of years we played South Africa in back to back one-dayers it had nice bounce and carry. For a batter you can leave predominantly when the ball is short of a length. Hopefully it's got that sheen.”
In contrast to Warner’s experience of the WACA, the expected South African opening partnership of Stephen Cook and Dean Elgar has yet to walk out and face the new ball here. Elgar has one fond memory of this ground due to making his Test debut here four years ago, but that’s where it ends as he batted at No 6 and was dismissed for a duck in both innings.
Cook, though, believes having grown up at the Wanderers in Johannesburg should prepare him adequately for the challenge that lies ahead.
“Opening the batting in any country in any conditions is important,” he stressed. “To follow in the footsteps of guys like Graeme (Smith), who obviously had a fantastic record, is a big responsibility. I have always been one to try and front up to the challenge and try to play my part in a team performance,” he said.
“What holds me in good stead is that my home ground back home is the Wanderers. It’s probably the one ground in the world that is more similar to Perth in terms of pace and bounce. I will try and take a few of those lessons I have learnt in my career playing over there and translate them into playing here.”
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