Cricket-Third Ashes test

Dec 12 (Reuters) - Following is a factbox on the third test
match between Australia and England, which starts on Thursday:

WHERE?
WACA, Perth - Capacity: 18,000
The WACA (Western Australian Cricket Association) Ground
hosts its 14th and final Ashes test before giving up major
cricket events to the new 60,000-seat Perth Stadium across the
Swan River.
Built on a swamp and home to sporting events since the
1890s, the WACA is traditionally a pace bowler's paradise.
Although the hard track has slowed over the years, the late
afternoon breeze - the Fremantle Doctor - still aids seamers and
spinners, making life hard for batsmen.
Australia have dominated England at the smallest of the five
Ashes venues since their first meeting here in 1971, with nine
wins to the visiting side's lone success in 1978.
Adam Gilchrist batted England into submission in the third
test in 2006, cracking a 57-ball century as Australia clinched a
206-run win and went on to claim a series whitewash.
Mitchell Johnson's six-wicket haul four years ago helped
Australia beat England by 150 runs, and the hosts built on that
victory to seal another 5-0 series triumph.

WHEN?
Dec. 14-18. Play starts at 1030 local time (0230 GMT)

AUSTRALIA (World ranking: fifth)
Squad - David Warner, Cameron Bancroft, Steve Smith
(captain), Jackson Bird, Pat Cummins, Peter Handscomb, Josh
Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun
Marsh, Tim Paine, Mitchell Starc
Coach: Darren Lehmann

ENGLAND (World ranking: third)
Squad - Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, Anderson, Jonny
Bairstow, Jake Ball, Gary Ballance, Stuart Broad, Alastair Cook,
Mason Crane, Tom Curran, Ben Foakes, Dawid Malan, Craig Overton,
Mark Stoneman, James Vince, Chris Woakes.
Coach: Trevor Bayliss

WHAT THE BOOKMAKERS SAY*
Australia win: 8-15
England win: 9-2
Draw: 7-2

MATCH OFFICIALS
Umpires: Marais Erasmus (South Africa), Chris Gaffaney (New
Zealand)
TV umpire: Aleem Dar (Pakistan)
Match referee: Richie Richardson (West Indies)

HISTORY
Previous Australia v England tests in Perth
Matches: 13
Australia wins: 9
England wins: 1
1970 Match drawn
1974 Australia 9 wickets
1978 England 166 runs
1979 Australia 138 runs
1982 Match drawn
1986 Match drawn
1991 Australia 9 wickets
1995 Australia 329 runs
1998 Australia 7 wickets
2002 Australia inns & 48 runs
2006 Australia 206 runs
2010 Australia 267 runs
2013 Australia 150 runs

CURRENT TOUR
First test Gabba, Brisbane Australia won by 10
wickets
Second test Adelaide Oval Australian won by 120
runs

Remaining tests:
Fourth test Dec. 26-30 (2330) Melbourne Cricket Ground
Fifth test Jan. 4-8 (2330) Sydney Cricket Ground
* Odds courtesy of www.skybet.com

(Compiled by Shrivathsa Sridhar in Bengaluru, editing by Nick
Mulvenney)