This Perth Stadium pitch report comes down to pace and bounce, and Big Bash batters have struggled with both lately. In seven BBL|15 games, no side made more than 153. Across BBL|14 and BBL|15, completed first innings (20 overs or all out) averaged about 149. The curator says pace and bounce are a fixture of his pitches, so seamers who hit a hard length are the main threat and spinners play a supporting role. Chasing has paid off recently, with sides batting second winning nine of the twelve BBL games over those two seasons. A first-innings total of 160 is above par here, but no total has been truly safe: the Sydney Thunder chased 177 in January 2025.
Tests follow the same theme. Australia have won five of the six played here, and the 2025 Ashes opener finished inside two days, yet the ICC still rated that pitch "very good".
Quick verdict
| Question | Short answer |
|---|---|
| Batting or bowling? | Bowling-friendly in recent BBL seasons; true pace and bounce in Tests |
| Pace or spin? | Pace, especially hard lengths; Test pitches crack as matches go on |
| Bat first or chase (BBL)? | Chase: 26 wins to 22 overall, and 9 of 12 in BBL|14 and BBL|15 |
| Good BBL first-innings score | 150 to 160 is competitive; the recent average is roughly 149 |
| Highest BBL total | 213/3, Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat, 11 Jan 2020 |
| Weather watch | Hot afternoons (January mean maximum 31.4°C) and the Fremantle Doctor sea breeze |
Every BBL figure here is dated to January 2026, when BBL|15 finished.
Perth Stadium or Optus Stadium?
They are the same venue. The stadium in the Perth suburb of Burswood is known as Optus Stadium under a 10-year naming-rights deal announced in November 2017. Because of Cricket Australia's contracts, it is called Perth Stadium for international cricket. Only the name changes with the competition; the pitch and the ground are the same.
The stadium holds 61,266 people. Its cricket crowd record, 55,018, was set at the BBL|15 final in January 2026. The field measures 165 metres by 130 metres. The first cricket match was played in December 2017, and the Perth Scorchers moved there from the WACA Ground in 2018. The pitches are drop-ins prepared under WA Cricket's head curator, Isaac McDonald. In 2026-27 the stadium also hosts Sheffield Shield cricket for the first time in eight years.
Perth's 2026-27 calendar
Cricket Australia's 2026-27 schedule and the BBL|16 fixture list put these games at the stadium:
| Date | Match | Start (WST) |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Nov 2026 | First ODI, Australia v England | 11:30am |
| 9-13 Dec 2026 | First Test, Australia v New Zealand | 10:20am |
| 20 Dec 2026 | Scorchers v Hobart Hurricanes | 4:15pm |
| 26 Dec 2026 | Scorchers v Melbourne Stars | 6:15pm |
| 30 Dec 2026 | Scorchers v Sydney Thunder | 4:15pm |
| 4 Jan 2027 | Scorchers v Brisbane Heat | 6:15pm |
| 13 Jan 2027 | Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades | 4:15pm |
The Scorchers go into BBL|16 as defending champions after winning their sixth title in January 2026. The season opens in Chennai on 12 December, with the Scorchers playing the Renegades.
Perth Stadium pitch report for the BBL
The long-run record is close: 48 BBL games, 22 won by the side batting first and 26 by the chasing side. Six totals of 200-plus have been made here, all between 2018 and January 2024. Since then, scoring has dropped sharply.
The last two seasons
| Season | Games | Won batting first | Won chasing | First innings (20 overs or all out) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BBL|14 (2024-25) | 5 | 1 | 4 | 146 to 177 |
| BBL|15 (2025-26) | 7 | 2 | 5 | 127 to 153 |
The BBL|15 count includes the Qualifier and the final. One BBL|15 game, against the Sixers in December 2025, was shortened to 11 overs or fewer a side and is left out of the first-innings range.
What those games show:
- Par has fallen. The highest score in BBL|15 here was 153, and the Scorchers defended 153/8 against the Strikers and 147/9 against the Sixers in the Qualifier. They bowled the Sixers out for 99 in that game.
- Chasing has been the safer route. The final followed the pattern: the Sixers were bowled out for 132 in 20 overs, and the Scorchers got home with 15 balls to spare.
- Home form is strong but not perfect. The Scorchers won five of their seven games here in BBL|15, losing to the Hurricanes and the Renegades.
The scores do not tell you why runs have dried up. It could be the pitches, the bowling attacks or both. Either way, recent par here sits well below Hobart's.
Test cricket at Perth Stadium
| Test | Result |
|---|---|
| Dec 2018 v India | Australia won by 146 runs |
| Dec 2019 v New Zealand (day-night) | Australia won by 296 runs |
| Nov-Dec 2022 v West Indies | Australia won by 164 runs |
| Dec 2023 v Pakistan | Australia won by 360 runs |
| Nov 2024 v India | India won by 295 runs |
| Nov 2025 v England | Australia won by 8 wickets, in two days |
The surfaces have changed from year to year. In 2022 Australia made 598/4 declared against West Indies, and that pitch was later judged slightly too good for batting. The following year, cricket.com.au reported that McDonald left less grass on, and the pitch cracked: Pakistan were bowled out for 89 on the fourth day, and Mitchell Starc said it reminded him of the old WACA. In November 2024 India bowled Australia out for 104 in reply to 150, then piled up 487/6 declared as the surface flattened.
The 2025 Ashes opener was the most extreme yet. With about 9mm of grass on the pitch, England made 172 and 164, Starc took a career-best 7/58, and Travis Head's 123 from 83 balls won the game on the second day. It was the first Ashes Test to finish inside two days since 1921, as recorded in the 2025-26 Ashes series summary. Even so, the ICC rated the pitch "very good", its top grade. Before that Test, McDonald summed up his approach: "pace and bounce is a mainstay, and that's not going to change any time soon."
One-day cricket has been scarce and low-scoring: in four men's ODIs, Australia have won only one, a shortened game against India in October 2025.
Scores and records at Perth Stadium
These figures cover men's cricket up to the end of January 2026.
| Category | Record |
|---|---|
| BBL results | 48 games: 22 won batting first, 26 chasing |
| Highest BBL total | 213/3, Perth Scorchers v Brisbane Heat, 11 Jan 2020 |
| Lowest BBL total | 79, Perth Scorchers v Melbourne Renegades, 28 Jan 2019 |
| Highest Test total | 598/4 declared, Australia v West Indies, 2022 |
| Lowest Test total | 89, Pakistan v Australia, 2023 |
| ODI results | 4 games, 3 won by the chasing side; highest total 259, England, 2018 |
| Record cricket crowd | 55,018, BBL|15 final, 25 Jan 2026 |
The WACA Ground: Perth's other venue
The WACA built Perth's reputation for pace. The old ground was long seen as one of the quickest and bounciest pitches in the world, and the outfield is fast too: four of the ten fastest Test hundreds were made there. It hosted 44 men's Tests between 1970 and 2017, and Australia won 25, lost 11 and drew 8. The last men's Test was the December 2017 Ashes Test, and the last BBL game was in January 2018.
The WACA has not stopped hosting cricket. It is still the base for Western Australia's first-class team and the Scorchers' WBBL side, and it staged a women's day-night Test against India in March 2026. Redevelopment work around the ground began in 2021. For men's internationals and the BBL, though, Perth cricket now means Perth Stadium.
Conditions: heat and the Doctor
Perth summers are hot and mostly dry. At the Perth Metro station, January averages a high of 31.4°C and December 29.6°C, and the three summer months bring only about 40mm of rain. Afternoon BBL starts (4:15pm) mean the first innings is often bowled in the heat.
The local wind has its own name. The Fremantle Doctor is a south-westerly sea breeze that usually arrives between 10am and 3pm and is strongest in December and January. At the WACA it has long been said to help swing bowlers. Perth Stadium sits inside a bowl with a roof over most of the seats, and Starc has said he misses the WACA breeze when he bowls there. So the Doctor is probably a smaller factor at the stadium than its reputation suggests, though not one to ignore.
What CricGuru sees, and what Perth adds
CricGuru's prediction and this report answer different questions. Go to the live and upcoming matches page, find the Scorchers match you want, sign in and request the AI prediction. A few trial predictions come with a free account; for more, paid plans add a daily allowance. The win probability weighs four things: each side's recent results, how the two teams have fared against each other, their points per game in the league table, and a small boost for the home team. An AI-written preview is attached.
What it does not include is Perth itself. Pitch, venue, weather and the toss are not inputs. So the model does not know that 150 has been a competitive total here, or that chasing sides won nine of the last twelve BBL games. When you read a Scorchers prediction, adjust for three things: a lower par, the recent chasing record and, for 4:15pm starts, the afternoon heat. Our toss guide covers how much the call itself is worth. The latest cricket news is on the news hub.
FAQ
Is Perth Stadium the same as Optus Stadium?
Yes. Optus Stadium is the naming-rights title, and Perth Stadium is the official name, which Cricket Australia uses for international matches.
Does Perth Stadium suit batters or bowlers?
Recently it has favoured bowlers. No side passed 153 in BBL|15, and Test pitches give true pace and bounce, with cracks opening up as the game goes on. Seamers who hit a hard length do best.
What total is competitive at Perth Stadium in the BBL?
Anything from 150 to 160 has been competitive. Completed first innings averaged roughly 149 across BBL|14 and BBL|15, and the Scorchers won a Qualifier defending 147. No total is safe, though: 161 and 177 were both chased in BBL|14.
Does the Fremantle Doctor affect Perth Stadium?
Probably less than it affected the WACA. The sea breeze is strongest in December and January, but Starc has said he misses the breeze the WACA gets when he bowls at the stadium.
Is cricket still played at the WACA?
Yes. It hosts Western Australia's first-class games, the Scorchers' WBBL side and women's internationals. It has not staged a men's Test since 2017 or a BBL game since January 2018.
Bottom line for Perth
Respect the bounce, treat 150 to 160 as a fighting total, and lean towards chasing until the scores say otherwise. For a ground that plays very differently, read our MCG pitch report. If you are tracking the Hurricanes, who visit Perth on 20 December, the Bellerive Oval guide shows why Hobart needs a much bigger total.