Australia's Cricket Stars and WA Cricket Advocate for WACA as Women's Test Hub
Following a dominant victory at the newly-redeveloped WACA Ground, Australia's top women's cricket players are pushing for Perth to become the permanent home for Test matches in the longer format of the game. WA Cricket is fully supporting this player-led initiative to host international four-day day games at the venue on a regular basis.
Healy's Vision for More Red-Ball Games
In a fitting send-off for retiring legend Alyssa Healy, Australia secured a comprehensive 10-wicket win over India in a day-night Test at the WACA on Sunday. This victory marks the team's second impressive performance at the ground in three years, following an innings-and-284-run demolition of South Africa in 2024.
Healy expressed her desire to see more red-ball cricket played at the WACA, highlighting the advantage of Australia's pace attack in these conditions. "I'd love to see a few more red-ball games here with our pace attack, I think that'd be electric," she said. "We've had the luxury of playing at the MCG as well, that was a really cool experience for our group. If we're bringing sides out here, we want to see them in favourable conditions, and the WACA is a beautiful place to play cricket with the squad we've got."
Strong Fan Support and Redevelopment Success
The recent Test match drew a total of 9,421 fans across three days, marking the first international fixture since the WACA's $189 million redevelopment was officially opened to the public last month. This strong turnout demonstrates a growing appetite for women's Test cricket in Perth.
WA Cricket chief executive John Stephenson emphasized the significance of this event, stating, "The game had shown there is a genuine appetite for women's Test cricket in Perth, and we're incredibly eager to make it a regular part of our calendar." He praised the outstanding crowds, compelling cricket, and the ground's magnificent appearance post-redevelopment.
Stephenson added, "The WACA Ground has been the backdrop to some of the most iconic moments in Australian cricket history. This Test added a few more, including Alyssa Healy's retirement, as well as the remarkable achievements of Ellyse Perry and Annabel Sutherland, among others. With the redevelopment complete, we now have world-class facilities to match that history, which makes the WACA Ground the perfect venue to showcase women's Test cricket long into the future."
Player Endorsements for Regular Fixtures
WA star Alana King highlighted Perth's enthusiastic cricket community as a key factor in making the WACA an ideal venue. "We know, just through the WBBL numbers, that Perth fans and locals come out and support us. I know in the WBBL, we have the best crowd numbers across the board," she told The West Australian before the game. "I'd love to see an international game played here every summer. Whether it's a Test match or a white-ball game, either or, I'll take it."
Ahead of the series, emerging batter Phoebe Litchfield also voiced her support, noting the team's love for playing at the WACA and hoping for regular opportunities in the future. "They deserve it, to be fair. WA Cricket have invested beautifully into that ground and always support their women," she said. "To be part of that history and being able to make our own history is pretty special."
The combined efforts of players and administrators signal a strong push to establish the WACA Ground as a central hub for women's Test cricket in Australia, leveraging its upgraded facilities and passionate local support to grow the sport's profile and accessibility.
