A guide to the WACA
Perth's WACA ground established its reputation as a fast bowler's delight but in recent seasons spinners have been having more success. Here, Cricinfo looks at the venue for the third Test
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Record Tests 10, Australia 6, England 1, Drawn 3
It's usually hot, but the only thing that is dependable is the Fremantle doctor, the cooling afternoon breeze off the ocean. It provides a good opportunity for the into-the-wind swing bowler to get moving and will help the pace of Lee, Harmison and Co at the other end. Baking days that expand cracks in the pitch are also likely.
This year nobody is really sure. Alex Tudor remembers the bounce from Brett Lee, but the pitch has changed face since 2002-03 and hasn't offered much to the fast men this season. The groundsman Cameron Sutherland says the famed lift will return, but it hasn't turned up during the domestic games and batsmen have scored freely and heavily. Spinners have had the most success lately and there was talk of playing Shane Warne with Stuart MacGill before Andrew Symonds' offspin and medium pace were preferred. A repeat of the first four days at Adelaide is a sensible bet.
Michael Hussey - "Over in the west we're a pretty parochial mob so the support you get in your home city is unbelievable. They are just so passionate in Western Australia. When I played my first game for Australia there the roar of the crowd and the support of the crowd were phenomenal."
The WACA (Western Australian Cricket Association Ground), which is built on old swamp land, has been the home to many sports, including AFL, rugby (both codes) and soccer, but its real fame is as a cricket ground. Although it was first used in 1890, transport problems meant it was not part of Australia's main cricket community. It was only with the introduction of scheduled flights that Perth become truly accessible.
Greg Chappell's Test century on debut signalled the start of a wonderful career. His 108 from No. 7 marked the ground's opening Test in 1970-71 and Brian Luckhurst, Ian Redpath and John Edrich also got centuries in the draw.
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England's only win at the ground came during the World Series Cricket split in 1978-79, when David Gower scored 102 and Rodney Hogg earned ten wickets. Gower has the most runs in Australia-England contests at Perth with 471 in five games, leading Greg Chappell (371), Steve Waugh (351), Geoffrey Boycott (319) and Allan Border (317).
Michael Hussey - "The Subiaco Hotel is very good for food and drink. It's a ten-minute drive from the WACA."
Peter English is the Australasian editor of Cricinfo