The dusty Waca Ground in Perth became the stage for one of cricket's most memorable controversies in December 1979, when Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee strode to the crease wielding an aluminium bat that would create sporting history.
The Infamous Combat Bat Incident
During the first Test between Australia and England, Dennis Lillee created uproar when he appeared at the wicket using his revolutionary aluminium bat, dubbed 'Combat'. The bat had been designed by his business partner Graeme Monaghan, and Lillee later admitted in his autobiography Menace that the entire episode was a carefully orchestrated publicity stunt.
England's captain Mike Brearley immediately complained to umpires Max O'Connell and Don Weser that the metal bat was damaging the ball. The situation escalated when Lillee refused to switch to a traditional wooden bat, despite his captain Greg Chappell bringing three conventional options onto the field.
The crowd's reaction shifted from confusion to hostility as the standoff continued for nearly ten minutes. Eventually, Lillee hurled the aluminium bat away in disgust, though not before the incident had already become etched in cricketing folklore.
Historical Context of the 1979 Series
This three-Test series had been hastily arranged after Cricket Australia reached an agreement with media magnate Kerry Packer, granting him television rights on Channel Nine in exchange for disbanding his rival World Series Cricket organisation. England agreed to participate under two strict conditions: the Ashes wouldn't be at stake, and the team wouldn't wear the coloured uniforms made famous during Packer's pyjama cricket era.
For many young spectators like twelve-year-old Brendan Foster, who witnessed events from decaying wooden benches just inches from the field, the political background mattered little compared to seeing legendary players like Lillee in action.
Lillee's Fiery Response with Ball
Following the bat controversy, Lillee channeled his frustration into his bowling with devastating effect. Coming in from the city end with the Fremantle Doctor breeze behind him, he immediately dismissed both England openers Geoff Boycott and Derek Randall for ducks.
The hostile crowd atmosphere transformed into celebratory chanting as shirtless fans gathered around makeshift bars on the hill, enthusiastically roaring Lillee's name. Australia went on to win the match by 138 runs, though England's Boycott came painfully close to a century, stranded on 99 in the second innings.
This dramatic Test match provided spectators with an uncensored view of the fierce competitiveness defining Ashes cricket. The incident also prompted cricket's governing bodies to explicitly ban aluminium bats from future international matches, ensuring Lillee's brief experiment would remain a unique moment in sporting history.
