WA scores as Perth secures Test matches

On the eve of the pivotal third Test match between Australia and the West Indies, the State Government, the Western Australian Cricket Association (WACA) and Cricket Australia have agreed to Perth hosting a Test match each year until at least 2012.

Tourism Minister Liz Constable confirmed the deal today and said the agreement secured Perth the best available international cricket match - including the third Ashes Test next year - alongside the Boxing Day and New Year's Day Tests.

"This is good news for local and visiting cricket fans as well as for the State - the third Test can often be the deciding match and is important in any cricket series," Dr Constable said.

"The timing means we can attract visitors from overseas to WA on their way through to Melbourne and Sydney for the Boxing Day and New Year's Test matches."

The Minister said the arrangement would attract potentially an additional 9,500 visitors to Perth, staying more than 96,000 nights, and boosting the economy by about $28million across the three years.

"Together with the WACA, we will be celebrating the successful 'Cricket City Perth' next year to maximise the Ashes Test match and the 2012 Indian Test match experience," she said.

"Cricket City Perth could feature festival matches, city live sites, corporate events, celebrity events and coaching clinics, providing an incentive for cricket visitors to stay here longer."

The three-year agreement that Eventscorp and the WACA brokered with Cricket Australia is likely to include an international Twenty20 match featuring Australia in Perth. Only three Twenty20 matches are scheduled in Australia each season.

"Our strategy behind this deal is to maximise the number of visitors to WA for the cricket and generate strong international media interest in the matches, effectively promoting Perth to millions of television viewers," Dr Constable said.

"As an example, more than 100 million viewers in India will follow all the action from the WACA Ground."

Test match itinerary:

• Frank Worrell Trophy: 3rd Test, December 16-20, 2009, Australia v West Indies
• Ashes Series: 3rd Test, December 16-20, 2010, Australia v England
• Border-Gavaskar Trophy: 2011-12 season, Australia v India (Dates and match details to be confirmed)