An enthralling summer of cricket at Optus Stadium reached its symbolic conclusion last night, when the block of five drop-in pitches was removed from the field in preparation for winter sport.
Pitch Removal Marks End Of Incredible Summer At Optus Stadium
Installed last October and tended to by WA Cricket staff in partnership with HG Turf, the world-class pitches were central to 10 days of enthralling Test, One-Day International and T20 cricket in 2024-25.
Curators produced a signature surface for the men’s ODI between Australia and Pakistan in November, helping quicks from both teams – including WA local Lance Morris – generate the pace and steepling bounce Perth is known for.
WA hosted the NRMA Insurance West Test later that month, launching a memorable Border-Gavaskar series in style. Megastar Jasprit Bumrah put on a fast-bowling exhibition, before exciting young opener Yashasvi Jaiswal and Indian hero Virat Kohli struck centuries during a match-defining partnership.
The balance between bat and ball inspired praise from many senior reporters including veteran cricket writer Robert Craddock, who labelled the pitch a “masterclass”. The ICC agreed, awarding the surface its top rating of ‘very good’.
Members and fans, meanwhile, turned out in force. Days one (31,302) and two (32,368) saw the largest single-day crowds for Test cricket in Perth’s history and the total attendance across all days reached 96,463 – the highest ever at Perth Stadium, and second highest in the city’s history.
A month after opening the Test summer, Optus Stadium was the starting point for the KFC BBL|14 campaign when Perth Scorchers hosted Melbourne Stars in a Wild West-themed extravaganza.
It was the highest attended season-opener (30,469) in BBL history – shattering the previous benchmark of 27,676 at Adelaide Oval to begin BBL|04 – and an indicator of what was to come.
Crowd numbers eclipsed 41,800 in three of the Scorchers’ five home games, peaking with a Club record home attendance of 46,471 against Sydney Thunder on 3 January.
All told, 192,534 fans flocked through the gates at Optus Stadium to see Perth Scorchers in action, witnessing three victories and two nail-biting losses decided in the final few deliveries. The Scorchers’ average home crowd of 38,507 was comfortably the highest in the BBL and another new benchmark for the franchise.
Preparations have already begun for more blockbuster fixtures next summer, which begins with the West Test between cricket’s oldest and fiercest rivals.
The first NRMA Insurance Ashes Test starts in Perth on 21 November, pitting Pat Cummins’ all-conquering Aussies against Ben Stokes’ fearless Englishmen.