Uncertainty over the venue of third Ashes Test in December

The Ashes is scheduled to kick start in November with the first Test match at the Gabba. It will be the first time that a day-night Ashes game will be played which will be the second Test at the Adelaide Oval. With tickets set to be released for the series, the third Test’s venue is still uncertain.

Scheduled to be played in Perth, Cricket Australia is in a dilemma whether to go ahead with the game at the old WACA stadium or host it at the new Perth Stadium which is scheduled to open soon. The new Stadium is a huge one and has a seating capacity of 60,000 people as compared to WACA’s 15,000.

The Perth Stadium was scheduled to be completed in early 2018 but following construction progress running ahead of time, the possibility of hosting the third Test was raised. CA is keen on hosting the Test at the new stadium in order to attract more spectators.

While the construction is ahead of time, there is a delay in the stadium’s public transport infrastructure. The projected pedestrian footbridge to be linked with the stadium and East Perth has exceeded the initial budget set and is expected to be delayed due to this fact. This douses the hopes of an Ashes Test to be played at the New Stadium.

The Perth Stadium in future will host all international matches as well as the Big Bash League. The 15,000-capacity WACA will be remodelled into a boutique stadium.

Tickets for the Ashes will be out for sale on May 1. However, tickets for the third Test will be put on hold till the venue for the Test has been decided. A Cricket Australia spokesman told The Sunday Times that there will be a ‘clear understanding’ on the venue of the third Test by May.

It is most likely that the game will eventually progress at the WACA, which might well be the last Test on this iconic ground which witnessed Test cricket for 47 years.