Australia stars and WA Cricket keen to make redeveloped WACA Ground country’s home of women’s Test cricket

After notching another huge win at the WACA Ground, Australia’s stars want Perth to become their home in the Test arena. And WA Cricket are also getting behind a player push to stage international four-day day games at the newly-redeveloped ground on an ongoing basis. Australia sent off retiring legend Alyssa Healy in fitting fashion on Sunday by wrapping up a comprehensive 10-wicket win over India in a day-night Test. The dominant performance was their second at the venue in the span of three years, coming after an innings-and-284-run demolition of South Africa in 2024. Healy said she hoped grounds all over the country would have their chance to host more of the longer format, but she wanted the WACA to be at the front of the queue. “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 favourable conditions, and the WACA is a beautiful place to play cricket with the squad we’ve got.” A total of 9421 fans came through the gates across the three days of the venue’s first international fixture since a $189 million redevelopment was officially opened to the public last month. WA Cricket chief executive John Stephenson said 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.” “The crowds were outstanding, the cricket was compelling, and the ground looked magnificent following its redevelopment,” Stephenson said. “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.” WA star Alana King said Perth’s appetite for cricket played a key role in making the WACA the “perfect venue” for her side. “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 said her side loved playing at the WACA and she hoped they would have the chance to do so regularly moving forward. “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.”