Perth could be the long-term home of the first cricket Test of the summer, thanks to unprecedented interest and the resurgence of the sport in Western Australia.

The West Australian can reveal Cricket Australia is open to extending the arrangement to start each home series in Perth beyond the current three-year deal which expires after next season’s clash with New Zealand.

Ahead of this summer’s blockbuster Ashes series starting November, the sport’s national governing body is in talks with the states around he future of its fixture. The success of the revitalised The West Test will be key in negotiations around its place in the summer schedule.

The WA Government has also told The West it wants to secure Perth as the launchpad for each summer of cricket.

It comes as the opening day of the first Ashes Test approaches a sell-out, with just 3000 seats remaining and more than 64,000 tickets sold across the match. That’s just days after they became available to the general public.

A crowd of 32,368 — the biggest single-day attendance in Perth history — watched the second day of Australia’s defeat to India last year. That is set to be surpassed again this year.

An extension to WA’s current deal would likely incorporate the next Ashes series in 2029. At least 10,000 fans are expected to travel from the United Kingdom for this year’s Test, which experts tip would pour more than $20 million into the economy.

Cricket Australia’s executive general manager of events and operations Joel Morrison said the resurgence of Tests in Perth had been viewed as a major success.

“It’s clearly been a winner, having the first Test here in Perth and we will pick up those conversations with the WA Government very soon around what the future looks like,” he told The West.

“But the best way that fans in WA can articulate a case for having the first Test remain here is turn up in strong numbers and we saw that last year, we expect to see it this year, so I would say the west is doing everything it possibly can to demonstrate why it is very important to have the first Test in Perth.”

The deal to lock The West Test in early in the season was part of an overhaul of the branding and promotion of the match including the launch of The West Fest, which will again align with the WA Day Festival this year.

The deal to lock The West Test in early in the season was part of an overhaul of the branding and promotion of the match, including the launch of The West Fest, which will again align with the WA Day Festival this year.

Melbourne, Adelaide and Sydney were all handed long-term deals to lock in their Test matches last season. That includes the Boxing Day Test being secured until at least 2031 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

The 2027 World Cup — to be held in Africa — will not finish until November and may require flexibility from Cricket Australia around its scheduling, which could be part of the hesitancy around a longer deal for Perth.

Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti confirmed the State Government was keen to keep the opening Test.

“Our government has worked closely with WA Cricket and Cricket Australia to bring this shared vision of The West Test and West Fest to life, so of course, we’d love to keep working together and remain the home of the opening Test,” she said.

Perth became the centre of the cricket world for more than a week ahead of last week’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy series and India — including megastar Virat Kohli — caused a frenzy by sending the WACA Ground into lockdown for a secret training session.

Direct flights from London will also make it the ideal starting point for English fans this summer.

“It is a huge advantage when you are hosting the first Test, because of course you get the anticipated moment when the teams arrive, they train leading into the Test, everyone is focused on that first Test, that first ball,” Mr Morrison said.

“It is a way for fans to connect in a stronger way than you might be able to elsewhere as the teams travel around the country.

“That anticipated moment of the first ball of the first Test is just so unique.

“I think that is very, very strong in terms of a rationale as to why the first Test is highly valuable, but particularly it is unique now for Perth with so many direct flights around the world.”

Ms Saffioti said it “makes sense” to start the season in Perth.

“WA is the western gateway to Australia, with over 20 direct flights from key global cities around the world, including Europe, Asia and Africa,” she said.

“It would make it easier for travellers who flock to our country for the cricket to start their trip here in WA before travelling across to the east for the rest of the Test series.”