Mitchell Johnson’s eight for 61 against South Africa in Perth was an amazing individual display of fast bowling. And whether it is with bat or ball, the most isolated Test venue in the world has an unbelievable habit of producing timeless individual cricketing moments.
When Johnson, the tearaway southpaw originally from Queensland who now calls Perth home, awoke yesterday he probably never imagined that by the conclusion of the South Africa’s innings he would have claimed the eighth best bowling figures by an Australian in the history of Test cricket and the best figures by a left hander.
Those who have watched Johnson develop have never questioned his potential — and now he has the ability to forge for himself an outstanding Test career — joining the likes of Alan Davidson and Bill Johnson in the pantheon of the great left arm pace bowlers for Australia.
But there is something about Perth that seems to continually produce standout performances — and Johnson’s is the latest in a long list of recent memorable moments.
In October 2003, Mathew Hayden smashed a hapless Zimbabwe to achieve the then world record for the highest Test score of 380.
Adam Gilchrist’s 102 not out against England in December 2006 was one of the most destructive innings in Test history. Coming from just 57 balls, Gilchrist missed the all time record for the fastest Test hundred set by Viv Richards by just one ball. Interestingly, Gilchrist scored a hundred in a session when Hayden made his 380.
And who could forget Shane Warne’s 99 against New Zealand?
But the leather slingers’ records at the WACA are even more impressive:
- Glenn McGrath; 8 for 24 vs Pakistan in 2004
- Michael Johnson; 8 for 61 vs South Africa in 2008
- Merv Hughes; 8 for 87 vs West Indies in 1988
- Craig McDermott; 8 for 97 vs England in 1991
- Curtly Ambrose; 7 for 25 vs Australia in 1993
- Mike Whitney; 7 for 27 vs India in 1992
- Andy Roberts; 7 for 54 vs Australia in 1975
An amazing collection of performances.
And what about hat tricks? Of the 37 hat tricks in the history of Test cricket 2 have been at the WACA; Glenn McGrath vs West Indies in 2000 and Merv Hughes vs West Indies in 1988. The “home” of cricket, Lords, has only had one (in 1960) whereas the MCG has seen five. But considering the WACA has only been a Test cricket venue since 1970 that is quite a strike rate.
In the Crikey tradition of disclosure I must admit I am a proud Sandgroper now living in Melbourne who was at the WACA when Hayden made his 380, Warne made his 99, Ambrose took his seven for and McGrath took his hat trick.
2 Comments
To me the most memorable performances have been :
Doug Walters getting a century off the last ball in the over
Roy Fredericks playing off the front foot against DKL and JT and getting a century in a session .
Greg Chappel’s maiden century
I don’t go to the cricket now it has been taken over by flag waving nationalist ( off all hues) morons be it the spectators or pundits . Get the bloody rifraff out of the cricket .
Merv was my favourite cricketer as a kid. I remember watching his hat-trick ball, also the first of the WI 2nd innings, and not really thinking it would happen. I think it was a 3 over, 2 innings hat-trick.
Curtly bowled the most dominating spell of fast bowling i have seen on his way to that 7/25. NOTE: Some research tells me that his bowling firgures for his 3rd spell of the innings were an amazing 7/1. Wow!