Queensland launches audacious bid to secure Gabba First Test against India
The fight to bring the first Test of the summer back to the Gabba is heating up, with David Crisafulli taking aim at Cricket Australia.
The first Test would return to the Gabba with a blockbuster clash against India in 2028 under an audacious plan to convince Cricket Australia to again start the summer in Brisbane.
Beyond the locked-in schedule the Gabba has just four chances to host cricket’s curtain-raiser Test before the stadium is demolished after the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Queensland is now rallying to give the Gabba a proper send-off with lucrative first Tests against India in 2028 and England in 2029 up for grabs.
The state government is in negotiations with Cricket Australia for it to return to Brisbane – but faces a bidding war with Perth and Adelaide for the rights.
It’s expected the government would have to stump-up more than $1m and offer marketing support to secure the first Test as part of a package of matches that could include white ball internationals in regional Queensland.
■ WATCH: 10 iconic Ashes moments that rocked the Gabba
Premier David Crisafulli, in his strongest push yet, said it was senseless to rob the Gabba of the first Test and sell it to the highest bidder.
“It defies logic that Cricket Australia would forgo what is one of the biggest advantages in sport by not having the first Test here,” he said.
“Despite the result in Perth, it’s not a good location for the first match of the series.
“Whatever money Western Australia paid for the Test, it disappeared in missed gate (tickets), kegs full of beer and ovens filled with pies.
“This shouldn’t be about money, this should be about cricket and Australians care deeply about this sport.
“The first Test should be in Queensland because it is the best result for cricket and its fans.”
Mr Crisafulli said his favourite Gabba memory was watching Mitch Starc bowl Rory Burns in the first ball of the 2021-22 Ashes series.
“The Gabba just erupted, that’s definitely the best memory I have while being at the Gabba,” he said.
The first Test will be held at Victoria Park Stadium after the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games under a verbal agreement between the state and Cricket Australia.
CricViz statistics reveal, since the 2021-22 Ashes, no pitch anywhere in the world has delivered more bounce than the Gabba – with good length balls passing the stumps at an average height of 91.4cm.
Queensland stalwart and former Australian one-day player Jimmy Maher says this characteristic proves the first Test belongs at the Gabba.
“It’s the rightful, spiritual place,” he said.
“The record Australia has here has got to be taken into account – it’s the best place to start the summer.
“We put ourselves at a slight disadvantage by not having it here.”
Maher said a few more touring squads should be tormented by the Gabba before it was torn down.
“When we go to other countries it’s not like they roll out the welcome mat,” he said.
“India don’t prepare fast bouncy pitches, they try make it as hard as possible … as they should.
“It would be the end of an unbelievable history and the end of something that has brought such joy and pleasure to so many people – and heartbreak.”
Brisbane will miss out on hosting a Test match against New Zealand next summer due to uncertainty about the Gabba under the former Labor government
Adelaide Oval will host Pakistan in the first Test of the 2027-28 summer.
Sport Minister Tim Mander said Queensland was in the fight to deliver a fitting farewell to the Gabba with the return of the First Test.
“We are serious about it,” he said.
“We’re in negotiations at the moment.
“It’s an important part of Queensland’s sporting culture, having the first test.
“It’s a great time for people to come together … a moment of time in the year where people from all around the state have reunions.
“We’ve been very successful as well, result wise.”
Cricket Australia Events and Operations General Manager Joel Morrison acknowledged Brisbane’s drive to win back the first Test for the Gabba.
“It’s not a surprise whatsoever that there’s great interest in Test cricket,” he said.
“Conversations are ongoing, nothing’s been decided beyond the current contracts that are in place and there’s no better time than to talk about what the future looks like over the course of the Test summer.”
Mr Morrison declined to put a “definitive timeline” on when Cricket Australia would decide where the first Test of the blockbuster 2028-29 summer against India would be held.
“Those conversations will run their course but while we’re in and around the cricket and the summer of cricket is happening, it’s a great time to connect with people,” he said.
By wrestling this summer’s pink ball Test off Adelaide, Brisbane has a major opportunity to prove its love of cricket, expert Bharat Sanderson said.
“It’s Australia versus England, but it’s Adelaide versus Brisbane as well,” he said.
“Who can put on a better show?
“In Australia, everything is so traditional … everybody wakes up on the morning of Boxing Day and watches Test cricket.
“Pink ball cricket has become a part of that, so it’s here to stay.”
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