Fredericks' assault, Tendulkar's tour de force
As the WACA ground starts to lose its pride of place on the international circuit, we look back at the finest innings at the iconic venue
Deivarayan Muthu
12-Nov-2015
Roy Fredericks 169 v Australia, 1975
Roy Fredericks took on Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, and Gary Gilmour, lashing 169 off only 145 balls. The bowlers kept targeting the body with short balls and Fredericks kept playing full-blooded pulls. Lillee and Thomson had combined figures of 37-0-251-5 while the centuries of Ian Chappell and Clive Lloyd were thrust into the shade. Such was the brutality of the assault.
Roy Fredericks took on Dennis Lillee, Jeff Thomson, and Gary Gilmour, lashing 169 off only 145 balls. The bowlers kept targeting the body with short balls and Fredericks kept playing full-blooded pulls. Lillee and Thomson had combined figures of 37-0-251-5 while the centuries of Ian Chappell and Clive Lloyd were thrust into the shade. Such was the brutality of the assault.
Read more about this innings: Shine on me, Roy
Bob Simpson 176 v India, 1977-78
Bob Simpson, the 41-year old former captain, who had retired a decade ago, returned to lead Australia against India, and how. The lead up to the series, however, was bizarre. It was overshadowed by Kerry Packer's World Series of Cricket (WSC) and Australia were left fielding a third-string side, but Simpson's heroics illuminated the series. Australia won the series 3-2 with Simpson striking 539 runs in five games at 53.90. His 176 in the second Test was the highlight of his series.
Bob Simpson, the 41-year old former captain, who had retired a decade ago, returned to lead Australia against India, and how. The lead up to the series, however, was bizarre. It was overshadowed by Kerry Packer's World Series of Cricket (WSC) and Australia were left fielding a third-string side, but Simpson's heroics illuminated the series. Australia won the series 3-2 with Simpson striking 539 runs in five games at 53.90. His 176 in the second Test was the highlight of his series.
Read more: The return of Bob Simpson
Mark Greatbatch 146 v Australia, 1989-90
Driven by David Boon's 200, Australia rattled up 521 and amplified their advantage by bowling New Zealand out for 231 with only Mark Greatbatch's 76 offering some resistance. Asked to follow on, New Zealand looked buried but Greatbatch flicked on the blockathon switch and stonewalled Tim Alderman, Jeff Lawson, and Merv Hughes. Greatbatch occupied the crease for 655 minutes and shepherded the lower order, inspiring New Zealand to save the game when a heavy defeat loomed. Greatbatch was 462 minutes reaching his second Test century, which at the time was the slowest first-class hundred in Australia.
Driven by David Boon's 200, Australia rattled up 521 and amplified their advantage by bowling New Zealand out for 231 with only Mark Greatbatch's 76 offering some resistance. Asked to follow on, New Zealand looked buried but Greatbatch flicked on the blockathon switch and stonewalled Tim Alderman, Jeff Lawson, and Merv Hughes. Greatbatch occupied the crease for 655 minutes and shepherded the lower order, inspiring New Zealand to save the game when a heavy defeat loomed. Greatbatch was 462 minutes reaching his second Test century, which at the time was the slowest first-class hundred in Australia.
Read more: One man against the mob
Sachin Tendulkar 114 v Australia, in 1991-92
Even as the senior batsmen folded, Sachin Tendulkar, only 18 then, stood to up the to the formidable combination of the Perth pitch and a four-pronged pace attack. Coming in at 69 for 2, Tendulkar watched six batsmen fall before he added 81 with No.10 Kiran More to lend a semblance of respect to the scorecard. The zippy movement off the cracks and chest-high bounce was tamed, the short-arm pull proving an effective ally. The counterattacking century, punctuated by 14 fours, was described 'incredible' by former Australia captain Ian Chappell.
Even as the senior batsmen folded, Sachin Tendulkar, only 18 then, stood to up the to the formidable combination of the Perth pitch and a four-pronged pace attack. Coming in at 69 for 2, Tendulkar watched six batsmen fall before he added 81 with No.10 Kiran More to lend a semblance of respect to the scorecard. The zippy movement off the cracks and chest-high bounce was tamed, the short-arm pull proving an effective ally. The counterattacking century, punctuated by 14 fours, was described 'incredible' by former Australia captain Ian Chappell.
Read more: My favourite Sachin hundred
Brian Lara 132 v Australia, 1997
With the Frank-Worrell Trophy wrapped up by Australia before the final Test, Brian Lara's first century of the series arrived late. Nonetheless, it was a special innings. On a pitch where the Australia batsmen struggled in the first innings, Lara was largely untroubled. Andy Bichel was thrashed down the ground, Steve Waugh was pulled with authority, and Shane Warne was drilled through the covers. Lara then acted as a runner for the injured Courtney Walsh as West Indies carried on to complete their fifth win at the WACA out of five Tests.
With the Frank-Worrell Trophy wrapped up by Australia before the final Test, Brian Lara's first century of the series arrived late. Nonetheless, it was a special innings. On a pitch where the Australia batsmen struggled in the first innings, Lara was largely untroubled. Andy Bichel was thrashed down the ground, Steve Waugh was pulled with authority, and Shane Warne was drilled through the covers. Lara then acted as a runner for the injured Courtney Walsh as West Indies carried on to complete their fifth win at the WACA out of five Tests.
Justin Langer 191 v Pakistan, 2004
After Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq had chosen to bowl, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami cut through the Australia batting, reducing the hosts to 78 for 5 inside 27 overs. Pakistan would have scented a breathe-easy time but Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist had other ideas. They collared the attack with an amalgam of solid and powerful strokes, adding 152 at a run rate of over five. Langer was the last man dismissed for 191 and Australia went on to gain a first-innings lead of 202. Langer was at it in the second innings too. his match aggregate of 288 delivering Australia's third-largest victory.
After Pakistan captain Inzamam-ul-Haq had chosen to bowl, Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Sami cut through the Australia batting, reducing the hosts to 78 for 5 inside 27 overs. Pakistan would have scented a breathe-easy time but Justin Langer and Adam Gilchrist had other ideas. They collared the attack with an amalgam of solid and powerful strokes, adding 152 at a run rate of over five. Langer was the last man dismissed for 191 and Australia went on to gain a first-innings lead of 202. Langer was at it in the second innings too. his match aggregate of 288 delivering Australia's third-largest victory.
Read more: Australia's opening idol
Adam Gilchrist 102 v England, in 2006-07
Coming off two ducks in his last two innings before the Perth Test, Adam Gilchrist unleashed his old self, razing what was then the second-fastest Test century. His half-century arrived off 40 balls and then took only 17 balls for his next fifty. The highlight of the wildfire innings was the three sixes against Monty Panesar in an over; all three were smote straight down the ground. The Michaels - Hussey and Clarke - set it up while Gilchrist blew it up, as Australia regained the Ashes with a 206-run win.
Coming off two ducks in his last two innings before the Perth Test, Adam Gilchrist unleashed his old self, razing what was then the second-fastest Test century. His half-century arrived off 40 balls and then took only 17 balls for his next fifty. The highlight of the wildfire innings was the three sixes against Monty Panesar in an over; all three were smote straight down the ground. The Michaels - Hussey and Clarke - set it up while Gilchrist blew it up, as Australia regained the Ashes with a 206-run win.
Read more: England surrender to the old Gilchrist
Chris Gayle 102 v Australia, 2009
West Indies had lost two of their best batsmen - Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Adrian Barath - to injuries ahead of the third Test. Having batted first, Australia racked up 520 on the back of five half-centuries. Chris Gayle, though, said no problem and struck a 70-ball century. The then West Indies captain had earlier stated that facing Nathan Hauritz was like facing himself and pinged the offspinner into the roof of the Lillee-Marsh stand, which left Lillee himself cheering: "I must admit I was barracking for him a little bit there. I'm an Aussie, but I was barracking for him."
West Indies had lost two of their best batsmen - Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Adrian Barath - to injuries ahead of the third Test. Having batted first, Australia racked up 520 on the back of five half-centuries. Chris Gayle, though, said no problem and struck a 70-ball century. The then West Indies captain had earlier stated that facing Nathan Hauritz was like facing himself and pinged the offspinner into the roof of the Lillee-Marsh stand, which left Lillee himself cheering: "I must admit I was barracking for him a little bit there. I'm an Aussie, but I was barracking for him."
West Indies went down by 35 runs but Gayle scooped the Player-of-the-Match and Player of-the-Series awards.
Read more: Hurricane Gayle bows to loyal team-mates
David Warner 180 v India, 2012
Another buccaneering century, another crushing Australian win at the WACA. David Warner was at the forefront of it, muscling 180 off 159 balls, which all but slammed the doors on India after the visitors were skittled for 161 in the first innings. The clam Ed Cown proved an able foil for the uninhibited Warner as they set up the second double-century opening partnership since the Justin Langer-Matthew Hayden era. Each of India's frontline bowlers was left nursing economy rates of over four and the hosts surged to an innings win.
Another buccaneering century, another crushing Australian win at the WACA. David Warner was at the forefront of it, muscling 180 off 159 balls, which all but slammed the doors on India after the visitors were skittled for 161 in the first innings. The clam Ed Cown proved an able foil for the uninhibited Warner as they set up the second double-century opening partnership since the Justin Langer-Matthew Hayden era. Each of India's frontline bowlers was left nursing economy rates of over four and the hosts surged to an innings win.
Read more: Warner's blazing ton destroys India
Hashim Amla 196 v Australia, in 2012-13
Hashim Amla's sparkling century led South Africa's demolition of Australia as the visitors cemented their place as the No.1 Test team. Usually the tortoise, Amla unlocked the hare in him, racing to his 18th Test century off only 87 balls in the second innings. He drove imperiously, profited from picking away balls from outside off to the midwicket boundary, and fed off AB de Villiers' aggression. It looked like the pair were batting on a different track as Australia faced a record chase of 632. South Africa claimed their second-largest win against Australia and crashed Ricky Ponting's farewell.
Hashim Amla's sparkling century led South Africa's demolition of Australia as the visitors cemented their place as the No.1 Test team. Usually the tortoise, Amla unlocked the hare in him, racing to his 18th Test century off only 87 balls in the second innings. He drove imperiously, profited from picking away balls from outside off to the midwicket boundary, and fed off AB de Villiers' aggression. It looked like the pair were batting on a different track as Australia faced a record chase of 632. South Africa claimed their second-largest win against Australia and crashed Ricky Ponting's farewell.
Read more: Hashim Amla performs in one-day gear
Deivarayan Muthu is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo