Perth Optus Stadium boss’s warning to Cricket Australia

Perth’s Optus Stadium is expecting a venue-record crowd for the first Test of this summer’s blockbuster series against India, but the ghosts of recent battles between Western Australia and Cricket Australia still linger.

The governing body has been urged by stadium chief Mike McKenna to show WA fans some love after a stormy few years when the state was sidelined from the Test calendar and angered by the ousting of favourite son Justin Langer as national men’s coach.

Unhappy with the mass withdrawal of star players from last week’s ODI in Perth, Optus Stadium’s boss has urged Cricket Australia to show WA fans some love. Credit: Getty Images

The mass withdrawal of star players from last week’s ODI against Pakistan has not gone unnoticed out west, but it will not stop an estimated 85,000-plus from coming to see Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant and co take on Pat Cummins’ men across the first three days of the series-opener.

Should attendances meet McKenna’s expectations, it would eclipse the previous Optus Stadium best of 81,104 set at the venue’s inaugural Test in 2018, also against India, when Tim Paine’s team, missing Steve Smith and David Warner, won on the fifth day.

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