Perth has lost its old charm

Rex Clementine
in Perth

Covering cricket in Perth has been a pleasant experience. WACA considered the quickest pitch in the world tests batsmen’s technique, character, resolve and determination and the faint-hearted fade away here. It’s the battle-hardened men like Hashan Tillakaratna who succeed. The left-hander copped a few nasty blows on his way to a Test match hundred in 1995, becoming the second Sri Lankan to score a century in Australia. The former Test captain is also the first Sri Lankan to score a Test hundred in South Africa, on an equally fiery pitch at the Centurion in 2002.

There have been other big moments for Sri Lankan cricket here in Western Australia.

Sri Lanka played a T-20 in Perth in 2010, a game that they won. Needing 134 to victory, Sri Lanka were 119 for four in the 15th over and captain Kumar Sangakkara played down a maiden over. Ahead of the 17th over, the tourists were feeling the pressure. Thisara Perera was on strike and Australia called up a leg-spinner by the name of Steve Smith. Thisara wasted no time as he hammered two sixes and a four in the first three deliveries to end the show.

WACA is a venue where Sri Lanka have some happy memories. However, in 2018, cricket in Perth shifted to Optus Stadium from WACA, a stone’s throw from the old ground.

For all its charm and history, WACA had one major issue; the venue could host only 18,000 fans. The new ground, very much like the Gabba in Queensland can welcome over 60,000 fans and it’s the third largest sports stadium in Australia.

The new stadium is not exclusive to cricket, it hosts Australian Rules Football and a couple of years ago All Blacks took on the Wallabies here.

Despite its state-of-the-art facilities and massive media center, the new ground is a concrete jungle. You miss WACA for more than one reason. The nostalgic feelings are there but many in Australia agree that you have got to move on with time.

While cricket grounds like MCG, SCG, Adelaide Oval and Gabba had gone through major redevelopment works in the last 25 years, WACA had remained the same old stadium, close to the hearts of fans and players though. But the modern game has no place for romantics. They are a breed that’s in extinct.