The chances of an Ashes Test opening the new Perth Stadium appear to have been bowled over by the Barnett government's claims its pet project won't be finished in time.
Months of speculation has centred around which sport would open the 60,000 seat stadium at Burswood, which is nearing completion, but it now appears the Ashes is off the table.
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Perth Stadium by drone
Brett Flatters took his drone out of a spin across the river in East Perth on Saturday to check out the process of the new Perth Stadium.
After Cricket Australia boss James Sutherland met with WA Premier Colin Barnett in June, there were strong rumours an Ashes Test – believed to be played in Perth from December 14-18 next year – would open the $1.4 billion stadium.
Even last month, WACA CEO Christina Matthews said she was working with the Barnett government to get the stadium ready for the prestigious Australia and England Test match next December.
![An Ashe Test will not open the new Perth Stadium.](/web/20161207150707im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/m/i/d/b/i/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gt439u.png/1480904652118.jpg)
But WA Sports Minister Mia Davies squashed any hope of an Ashes test being the curtain raiser for the stadium saying it won't be ready in time.
"Construction of the stadium is currently over 65 per cent complete and remains on track to allow the venue to open, as scheduled, in time for the start of the 2018 AFL season," she said.
"At the moment the December date for the 2017 Ashes Test is before the expected date the Stadium will be ready.
"If there is an opportunity to get an event such as the Ashes to open the Stadium we would welcome it but not at the expense of design and construction quality or operational planning and efficiency."
![A Western Derby has been touted as the most likely event to open the stadium in 2018.](/web/20161207150707im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/n/w/3/d/n/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gt439u.png/1480904652118.jpg)
Ms Davies wouldn't say which event would open the stadium but it is looking more likely a Western Derby will be the first event in early 2018.
Outgoing West Perth president Brett Raponi even flagged traditional WAFL rivals the Falcons and Royals should kick-start the stadium off with a Perth Derby.
![A Socceroos friendly has been touted as a possible curtain raiser at the stadium.](/web/20161207150707im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/x/9/f/8/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gt439u.png/1480904652118.jpg)
But WAtoday understands Football Federation Australia also hasn't given up hope of holding an international Socceroos friendly at the Burswood site early in the new year.
"Whatever event opens the Stadium, it will be tremendous," Ms Davies said.
![Dennis Lillee in in his playing days.](/web/20161207150707im_/http://www.watoday.com.au/content/dam/images/g/s/j/f/c/9/image.related.articleLeadwide.620x349.gt439u.png/1480904652118.jpg)
Ms Matthews said she hadn't been "formally" told by the Barnett government an Ashes test wouldn't open the stadium.
"I know it's probably a 50/50 chance it would be ready in time, but we have not been formally told anything," she told WAtoday.
"I know there are some challenges, but that has to do with infrastructure around the stadium."
WAtoday understands the infrastructure Ms Matthews was referring to, is the steel cable-stay bridge, which will give sport punters a seamless walk to the Perth Stadium from the city and the new Perth Stadium train station.
But a spokesman for Transport Minister Bill Marmion denied the chances of hosting an Ashes Test were on shaky ground because of delays to the bridge and train station.
A spokesman for Cricket Australia said it had a strong "desire" to be the first sport to open the stadium.
Cricket Australia denied it had given the Barnett government a December "deadline" for when the stadium would be complete or the Ashes Test would be moved to the WACA.
"There's no firm deadline in place, we are in constant dialogue about progress of the construction," he said.
"Tickets to the series don't go on sale until May next year.
"If we get to a situation where it won't be completed in time we will host the series at the WACA.
"Our CEO is on record about our desire to be the first sport to host in the new stadium."
Australia and WA cricket legend Dennis Lillee bounced the Barnett government in his new autobiography claiming the overall cost will blow out to $2 billion.
"I believe the originally stated billion-dollar cost for the new Perth Stadium will at least double by the time it is complete," Lillee said.
"I also believe WA cricket cannot possibly keep the WACA and hire the new stadium as well as make the money necessary for grassroots cricket."
The fiery fast bowler quit as WACA president after 11 years in 2015 because he disagreed with the board's plans to move Tests to the new stadium at Burswood.