Sutherland still optimistic of playing Ashes Test at Perth Stadium

James Sutherland, Cricket Australia chief executive, remains hopeful of a historic Ashes fixture at the new Perth Stadium despite the Test almost certain to be played at the WACA.

As reported by Cricbuzz last month, the Perth Ashes Test - starting on December 14 - is set to be played at the WACA and there remains growing uncertainty over whether cricket will be the grand opening of the 60,000-seat Perth Stadium.

Multiple Cricbuzz sources are adamant Australian Rules football will be the spectacle to unveil the new stadium in March or April of 2018. If that happens, it would be the final Ashes Test at the WACA - 47 years after the historic England and Australia match during the iconic ground's Test debut.

On Monday (May 8), Sutherland revealed he was headed to Perth this week to talk to stadium officials and the WA government. "The completion dates for the stadium actually work pretty well for us," Sutherland said. "But ... there's little room for things to go wrong in terms of teething problems that are in some ways perhaps inevitable. We're really optimistic and positive about the way in which the event could be staged in the new stadium ... we're looking towards the end of this month to make a decision."

Despite Sutherland's optimism, Perth Stadium is unlikely to be completed in time for the Ashes Test due to delays over an integral part of the project's public transport infrastructure. The new WA Government recently revealed that the proposed pedestrian footbridge linking the stadium and East Perth, near the WACA, had blown out in costs and the completion would be delayed.

The footbridge has been earmarked to allow about 14,000 people to and from the venue on event days. Costs have blown out by (AUD) $16 million and construction is now set to be completed "by the end" of the year, 12 months behind schedule.

A Perth Stadium spokesperson recently told Cricbuzz that the completion of the stadium's public transport infrastructure was essential for the venue to host events. According to a report in The West Australian, a One-Day International (ODI) between Australia and England on January 28 could open Perth Stadium.

Meanwhile, Sutherland was confident the traditional Boxing Day Test at the MCG would shatter the record books. The record attendance for a day of Test cricket was set in 2013 when 91,112 attended day one during of the MCG Ashes Test. Tickets for the 2017-18 Australian summer went on sale on Monday.

"Boxing Day is one great moment on the sporting calendar," Sutherland said. "Demand for tickets is strong."

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