How Gabba washout leaves Cricket Australia with $1 million refund bill

Ten balls could cost Cricket Australia up to one million dollars after Brisbane’s heavy rain arrived just before a minimum overs bowled threshold was reached.

Ten balls could cost Cricket Australia hundreds of thousands of dollars after Brisbane’s heavy rain arrived just before a minimum overs bowled threshold was reached.

Had the adverse weather held off for not even 10 more minutes during the first session, general ticket holders would not have been entitled to a full refund on their tickets.

Australia was 0-28 from 13.2 overs in its first innings. The cutoff point for a 100 per cent refund is 15 overs under Cricket Australia’s refund policy.

Though prices vary and not all tickets are subject to refunds, the fact the Gabba was sold out with a final attendance figure of 30,145 could mean fans could collectively be reimbursed more than $1 million.

The 30,000-strong Gabba crowd is entitled to full refunds from the washed out first day of the Brisbane Test, which could carry a seven-figure cost. Picture: Richard Walker

However it’s understood CA is insured to a degree against such days.

Former Test opener Phil Jaques said on the ABC that even 15 overs probably wasn’t enough cricket to warrant fans paying full toll.

“If I was a punter I’d feel pretty cheated if I had paid to come to the cricket and only got to watch 15 overs,” Jaques said.

Ex-Test batter and national coach Darren Lehmann agreed that two hours of cricket should be the minimum.

Heavy rain left a lake on the Gabba outfield as fans ducked for cover in the concourse areas. Picture: Getty Images

Play was eventually abandoned at 4:15pm local time with the match to resume an hour early at 9:50am on Sunday.

An Indian home Test series is a major money-spinner for CA, with the organisation operating on a four-year financial model in which the profits from summers involving India and England tour for men’s Tests offsets the losses from seasons in which lower-drawing opponents play the marquee matches of the summer.

But CA has already taken a hit with the Adelaide Test ending inside seven sessions.

That the Perth Test ended on day four is less of a financial issue given day five of Tests in Australia are generally open to the public for a gold coin donation to a specified charity, although broadcasters would doubtless prefer Tests go deeper than they have across the past couple of seasons.

India's Virat Kohli and Rishabh Pant leave the field as the rain falls. Picture: AFP

CA had cash reserves of $25.7 million as of its annual report but the expected boon of this summer and the men’s Ashes in 2025-26 left CA chair Mike Baird optimistic of a cash influx.

“The expectation is at the end of these two years we will have reserves in excess of $70 million,” Baird said in October.

“It’s obviously a huge uplift relative to where we have been ... we’re very bullish about the next two [summers] and it’s reflected in the forecast.”

A member of security adjusts a rain cover as he stands near the covers as the rain teems down on day one. Picture: AFP

The weather caused chaos in and around the Gabba, with flash flooding in a nearby suburb and fans forced to flee the stadium as rain lashed the city.

The forecast also poses another threat to Australia, with more rain predicted on Sunday and continue through the week.

With the Border-Gavaskar series currently tied at 1-1, Australia must win the series outright to secure the trophy as India are the current holders.

Originally published as How Gabba washout leaves Cricket Australia with $1 million refund bill