Allan Border’s statue is set to move from the Gabba, but where should it live?

A statue of all-time Australian cricket great Allan Border must be moved from the Gabba but where should it go? Border has a slight preference but cast your vote.

Olympic planners have been handed the same challenge that once befuddled Test bowlers around the world – they are not sure how to shift Allan Border.

One of the many hidden questions Olympic planners face when cricket moves from the Gabba to its new home at Victoria Park after the 2032 Olympics is what to do with the Gabba’s recently minted statue of the Test legend.

The outstanding work by sculptor Linda Klarfeld was only erected in December 2021, but has swiftly become a popular attraction for a venue lacking character and soul.

The question for planners is whether the statue is eventually given pride of place outside the new Olympic stadium which will be the home of cricket and the AFL or whether it is moved to the ground named after the decorated Australia captain – Allan Border Field at Albion.

Even the man himself admits it is a challenging call.

The Allan Border statue is on the move. Picture: David Clark

“I am a bit unsure of which way to lean on this,’’ Border told Code Sports.

“I assume cricket will be a lock to play at Victoria Park after the Olympics so maybe just leaning that way, especially if other statues are planned like they are at Suncorp Stadium.

“I am fairly comfortable either way.’’

While some may say Border will always be linked to the Gabba where he played 15 Tests and scored three centuries and will not have played at the new venue, his presence would give the Olympic venue it an instant injection of class and character, especially when hosting cricket Tests.

“Victoria Park will be the new home of cricket and it would be great to have a statue of one of our greatest cricketers outside the venue – that would be our preference,’’ said Queensland Cricket chief executive Terry Svenson.

“But it will be up to the venue planners to decide what they want (to do with the statues) and if it cannot be done we would love to have the statue at Border Field.’’

Had the Gabba been torn down and rebuilt which was an early Olympic plan, it had already been agreed that the statue would have been taken back to Border Field before being returned after the venue had been rebuilt.

Originally published as Allan Border’s statue is set to move from the Gabba, but where should it live?