WACA swansong

will have to contend with the extreme pace and bounce of the WACA one last time in next winter’s Ashes following news that the third Test will take place there rather than at the Perth Stadium.

The new venue in the nearby suburb of Burswood will not be ready in time to stage the match in December so the tourists will be in action at a ground with precious few good memories for England thanks to just one Test win there, in 1978.