Australia v India 2020: Gabba firms as venue for first Test
The Gabba is the raging hot favourite to host next summer’s first Test against India as a further hurdle was cleared with a long-held conspiracy theory shut down.
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Brisbane has become the raging favourite to host the first Test against India next summer with chief executive Kevin Roberts confident India won’t object to playing at Australia’s most celebrated fortress.
The Daily Telegraph reported last month that player power was likely to deliver the Gabba the prized series opener against the world’s No.1 team, and Roberts confirmed on Thursday that player opinion was “really important” in the criteria currently being weighed up.
Brisbane would appear to be in a direct battle with Perth for the right to host one of four Indian Tests, with Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney guaranteed for the other three – although no final decision has been made on anything yet.
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Australia captain Tim Paine joked a few weeks ago that CA would have to convince Indian counterpart Virat Kohli to play the first Test at the Gabba, but Roberts said on Thursday he expected the BCCI to tick off on Brisbane if that was what was decided.
“I don’t see India being opposed to that. There’s a lot to work through but I don’t see India being opposed to playing at any particular venue in Australia,” said Roberts.
“What was speculated in the last Indian tour (2018-19) that India refused to play at the Gabba simply wasn’t true.
“There will be different criteria. There is an art and science to this. As you would appreciate, we look at historical attendances, we look at the playing side of things is really important.
“Particularly for the first Test where the players have a very, very strong preference for the first Test of any major series to be played at the Gabba.
“… Then we come to Perth to a beautiful new Stadium that the Government has invested heavily in and the question over here from a WA perspective is, how could we possibly not schedule a Test match here?
“… The various criteria will be laid out.”
India is dominating the world Test championship and Roberts believes that will make it far easier for the subcontinental giants, run by former captain Sourav Ganguly, to agree to a pink ball Test in Australia next year.
The theory being that if India was desperate for wins, perhaps they might be more reluctant to expose themselves to trying to win under lights.
Roberts also indicated that hell might need to freeze over for the MCG not to hold onto its Boxing Day status.
There are no guarantees from head office, but the fact the MCG can hold more than 70,000 to accommodate the traditionally massive crowds for day one works heavily in its favour, as well as the tradition.
Roberts defended the state of the MCG pitch.
India is often typecast as the dictators of world cricket, but Roberts painted a more sympathetic view of them as “good global citizens.
“India is a really influential player in world cricket as we know and it’s great that they are,” he said.
“India I don’t think get enough credit for their generosity in promoting the game all around the world.
“We really commend India on being a good global citizen in growing the game around the world.”