Venues / Ed Hawkins / 21 November 2010 /

This is the ground whose wicket was for a long time described as the fastest in the world. Times have changed though and these days it's actually more of a spinner's paradise according to Shane Warne

Perth

Perth is the most isolated city in the world. England regularly feel very lonely there. With a win-loss ratio of 0.14, the WACA is their least successful ground. Anywhere.
One of the reasons why they have struggled is the pace of the pitch. Previously quick, England's bowlers have been accused of getting carried away, bowling too short and being cut and pulled to oblivion.

The heat is another problem. It can get sweltering in Western Australia which is why the Fremantle Doctor, a breeze which shows up in the afternoon to cool things down, is so famous.

The ground

The WACA (Western Australia Cricket Association) is far from pretty. Built on old swamp land a mix of stands and grass banks, surrounded by the huge floodlights, make it tough on the eye. Temporary stands are expected to be used for the Test which will boost the capacity to 24,000.

The WATA (Western Australia Trotting Association) is just around the corner, so spectators can go and try their luck at the track if they've suffered a dispiriting day at the cricket.

The wicket

Comfortably the most interesting surface of the series. Historically bouncy and fast - Lillee and Thommo genuinely gave batsmen nightmares here - it was reputed to be the quickest pitch in the world.

That was down to the clay content, brought in from elsewhere, in the wicket but with the red stuff in short supply, slowly but surely, it has got slower. Indeed, Shane Warne reckons it is now a spinners' wicket.

In the warm-up match between Western Australia and England, 11 wickets fell to spinners. There has been swing, too. Darren Pattinson, a one-cap England wonder, claimed eight wickets in an innings for Victoria in October.

That gives apparent credence to the usefulness of the Fremantle Doctor in assisting swing bowlers. However, it would be folly for England to rely on this. If it is so useful, why have they been dreadful on the ground down the years?

The first innings average in the last 10 Tests is 376, which is healthy enough. That doesn't tell the whole story, though. There have been occasions when batting has been tricky. The previous meeting between the sides, for example, in 2006.
Australia were bowled out for 244 in the first innings and the year before that were knocked over for 258 by South Africa. Australia were also dismissed for 150, in the third innings, only a year ago against West Indies.

The home side's recent record is nothing to shout about, losing to India and South Africa in their last three. There have been two draws in the last 10 Tests.

Highest total 735-6d Australia v Zimbabwe 2003

Highest 4th innings chase 414-4 South Africa v Australia 2008
Most runs 933 R Ponting
Most wickets 52 G McGrath
Most runs last five years 411 M Hussey
Most wickets last five years 21 M Johnson
Australian batting averages at ground
Katich 57.2
Watson 59.5
Ponting 46.6
Clarke 47.4
Hussey 45.6
North 34.5
Haddin 62.7

Last meeting

England were humiliated, plain and simple, which was some feat considering they were favourites, having dismissed Australia cheaply in the first innings. Mike Hussey top scored for the hosts as Monty Panesar, in his first appearance of the series, flighted the ball beautifully to claim five wickets.

Unfortunately for England's supporters, their team's woeful batting collapsed just when it needed to be at its strongest. Well placed at 107-4, they folded to 215 all out. Kevin Pietersen top scored with 70.

Australia then rubbed England's noses in it. Hussey, Michael Clarke and Adam Gilchrist all got centuries. Gilchrist's came off just 59 balls. England were set an improbable 557 to win.

They made a decent fist of it. Alastair Cook made a ton and Ian Bell 87 - at 261-3 England were shortening dramatically on the match odds market - but they were bowled out for 350, a defeat by 206 runs. England's 463-day Ashes reign, the shortest in history, came to an end just two balls into the second session of the 15th day of the contest

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