WACA Ground redevelopment: WA Cricket want venue to be hub for country’s women’s team

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WACA Ground redevelopment: WA Cricket want venue to be hub for country’s women’s team

WA Cricket is making a push for its redeveloped ground to become the heart of women’s cricket in Australia.

The $170 million redevelopment of the historic WACA Ground — which is now set for completion in November — will host a day-night Test match between Australia and India’s women’s teams in March next season.

It will be the first international match played at the venue after its facelift and just the second Test at the ground since a men’s Ashes match in 2017.

Sports minister Rita Saffioti was on hand to celebrate the “topping out” of the ground’s new northern pavilion on Friday morning.

The project had originally been slated for completion in the middle of the year, but that has now been pushed back to beyond the start of the domestic season. It is likely the ground will be opened in line with Perth’s Ashes Test from November 21.

That could open the door for England’s touring side to use the facility

*********** stars Alyssa Healy, Ellyse Perry, Ash Gardner and Western Australia’s own Beth Mooney and Alana King are set to star in the Test from March 6.

That match will be the WACA Ground’s first-ever pink-ball Test.

There had been strong momentum when Australia played South Africa at the venue early last year around the prospect of the WACA becoming a regular venue for the national team.

The size of the venue, the family-friendly nature of the grass bank, the soon-to-be upgraded facilities make it a strong option for women’s internationals, while the fast and bouncy wickets make for entertaining cricket and the timezone means matches are beamed into the east coast in **********.

WA Cricket chief executive John Stephenson said the ground was well placed to host more women’s matches.

“I think the WACA Ground 2.0 is going to be the perfect place for women’s cricket and Cricket Australia definitely acknowledge that by allocating us a women’s Test match,” he said.

“It will be our first pink-ball Test match, day-night women’s Test match, which is an incredible thing us historically to be staging.

“One of our priorities is developing women’s cricket, so everything we do here benefits Cricket Australia.

Camera IconThe WACA Ground Improvement Project nears closer to completion. WACA chief executive John Stephenson. Credit: Kelsey Reid/The West ***********

The West *********** understands Cricket Australia had been keen to host the clash with India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground — after the success of last year’s Ashes match there — but the schedule meant the match would be played too close to the start of the AFL season.

Perry — Australia’s highest-profile women’s cricketer — is among the top players that have pushed for more matches to be played in Perth.

The redevelopment of the facility includes the public pool and gymnasium, the nation-leading indoor cricket nets, function space and new public viewing areas.

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