THE Ashes Test in December will remain at the WACA Ground, and Australia’s one-day international against England next January will soon be confirmed as the first cricket match to be played at the new Perth Stadium.

Perth Scorchers might play only finals at Burswood, with their home matches — apart from one in Alice Springs — set to remain at the fortress-like WACA.

While the WACA and State Government are privately optimistic that Perth Stadium — and the controversial pedestrian bridge over the Swan River — could be finished in time for the third Test starting on December 14, cricket officials are preparing for the first Burswood match to be played six weeks later.

A senior government source confirmed the Ashes Test had no chance of being played at Burswood. The one-day game is now the likely opening event at the $1.2 billion stadium.

That approach was confirmed this week when Cricket Australia announced ticket arrangements for all internationals next summer apart from the Perth matches.

WACA chief executive Christina Matthews said it was likely tickets would eventually go on sale with matches scheduled at the WACA Ground but with the capability of transferring them to Burswood should the Perth Stadium be finished earlier than expected.

“What is likely is that we would sell tickets to the WACA Ground and then offer a transfer to Perth Stadium if the match is there,” Ms Matthews said.

“It would not be an upgrade in price but a transfer between grounds.

“We should know in the next four weeks whether the Test match will open it or the ODI.”

Australia are scheduled to host England on January 28.

A Perth Stadium spokesman confirmed only that the stadium was on track to be open for the next AFL season.

“The commitment has always been to have Perth Stadium ready for the start of the 2018 AFL season,” he said.

“The works program is on schedule to achieve this.”

A decision on the location of Perth’s matches has to be made next month. The status of the footbridge is unlikely to be clarified before then.

Drop-in pitches were installed at Burswood last week and the outfield is set to be laid in June.

The footbridge is an essential part of the stadium infrastructure, with up to 14,000 spectators expected to use it in the hour before and after matches.

“We should know in the next four weeks whether the Test match will open it ...”