A Day at the WACA
Staying at the Perth YHA on Wellington St. The hostel’s busy but it looks pretty good. Woke up early again (even though I didn’t actually need to any more) with a sore back. After over a week of sleeping on the ground any kind of bed was going to be too soft.
Another new city to explore although there doesn’t seem to be much to Perth itself. I had a wander into the CBD and the Murray St Mall area before deciding that going to the WACA would be a better way to spend the day.
After asking the staff at the YHA about how to get to the WACA I ended up walking rather than waiting for one of the free CAT buses. The walk loosened up my back and I arrived at Perth’s own cricket ground just after the Aussies ended their second innings.
That meant another day of watching the West Indies bat. It was Day 4 of the third and final test in this little series. Australia had been skittled for 150 which left the West Indies needing 359 for a victory and the chance to level the series at 1-1.
I had a good spot at the WACA, nicely under some shade and the company around me wasn’t too bad. There’s always that pleasure of being in Aussie cricket grounds where everyone just enjoys the day. It did get hot though. Luckily someone discovered that anyone could go to the bar and ask for a cup of ice (for free).
The West Indies made some hard work out of the day. They were scoring runs but it was a drawn out affair. With 2 days left in the test they seemed to be playing for a draw again or working their way slowly to the target. Most of the day saw only 3 wickets fall then after tea the Aussie bowlers really got stuck in and the West Indies opened up. At tea the West Indies were 3/174. By the close of play they’d hit 9/308. (The following day’s play would have free entry for all since it could, in theory, last for 1 ball.)
Link: Australia v West Indies, 3rd Test
