WACA moments…
SYDNEY, Australia (CMC) – FORMER Australia captain Kim Hughes has described a sensational innings by legendary West Indies batsman Roy Fredericks and a devastating spell from outstanding fast bowler Curtly Ambrose as among his five favourite memories in the history of Test cricket at the WACA ground in Perth.
The WACA (Western Australia Cricket Association) will celebrate its 40th anniversary of Test cricket this week when Australia play England in the third Ashes Test.
Hughes, who watched the first Test played there in December 1970, said Fredericks’ audacious 169 in 1975 and Ambrose’s seven for 25, 18 years later had stood out as a few of the top moments at the historic ground.
Pitted against the feared pace duo of Dennis Lillie and Jeff Thomson on a fast wicket in the second Test exactly 35 years ago this week, the left-hander slammed 24 fours and a six off 145 balls to fire West Indies to a series-levelling innings and 87-run victory.
Cutting and hooking with impudence, he reached three figures off a mere 71 balls before lunch on day two – an innings Hughes said was “just breathtaking”.
“One of the first balls he faced, he got a top edge and it went for six over fine leg off Lillee,” Hughes recalled.
“Fredericks was just mind-boggling and Thommo and Lillee bowled like the wind and they disappeared even quicker, it was incredible. I’ve never seen anything like it ever since. Roy Fredericks, he was amazing, he got hit in the head by Dennis without a helmet and he didn’t flinch.”
While West Indies went on to lose the next four Tests, Fredericks’ innings remained the highlight of the series for the tourists.
Hughes further recalled Ambrose’s frightening spell at the WACA in more contemporary times, when he bowled West Indies to an innings and 25-run win in the fifth and final Test and to a 2-1 series triumph.
Choosing to bat first, Australia were sent tumbling from 85 for two to 119 all out as Ambrose who ended with 405 wickets from 98 Tests matches at an average of 20.99, nabbed seven of the last eight wickets to fall for 34 runs.
“He was quick and unplayable. He was just on that day on that wicket. He made everybody look … he was frightening, that bowling spell was … (If you look at) any of the great four West Indian bowlers, none of them would have bowled any better than what he did that day, that’s for sure. He was a supreme bowler,” said Hughes.