We want the Gabba: Mitchell Starc admits players’ preference is to start Test series in Brisbane
Cricket Australia’s push to establish Perth Stadium as its new starting point for the Test summer has claimed a 40-year Ashes first, as players admit they’d prefer to start the series in Brisbane.
Cricket Australia’s decision to schedule the Ashes opener in Perth rather than Brisbane is in the spotlight with Mitchell Starc conceding Aussie players would prefer to start the Test summer at the Gabba and England paceman Gus Atkinson agreeing that the Aussies have ceded a historical advantage.
Australia was set to wait to match eve to announce its XI for the first Test, waiting until after Wednesday’s main training session - which was briefly interrupted by lightning - to declare which of Tasmanian teammates Jake Weatherald and Beau Webster would get the nod for what appears to be one spot in the side.
Webster’s presence in the slips cordon at training provided a potential hint about the make-up of the side, but the fact he was shuffled through as part of a rotation was cause for caution not to read too much into the drill.
In any case, the match will mark the first time that a men’s Ashes series on Australian soil has started away from Brisbane since 1982-83.
CA has sought to establish Perth Stadium as its new starting point for the Test summer, with this being the fourth consecutive year in which the first Test has been played at the venue.
Australia won the first two of those matches against the West Indies and Pakistan respectively, but was thrashed last year by India, a clash in which 17 wickets fell on day one.
Speaking on Wednesday, Perth Stadium curator Isaac McDonald said the balance between bat and ball had tilted too heavily towards the bowling side on the opening day, and that he had sought to redress the situation this time around.
“I think the curator, no matter what the outcome of the game, always reflects, and on reflection there maybe I was a day day late on the prep,” McDonald said.
“We’ve knuckled down, and we started (a) day early to ensure that firmness is there, and the characteristics of our WACA pitch, pace and bounce are going to be there.”
Australia has not lost a Gabba Ashes Test since 1986, and when asked whether Australia would retain such a steep home ground advantage in Perth, veteran paceman Starc said the jury was out.
“We’ll find out in a week, won’t we? Don’t listen to players. We would have liked to start in Brisbane too,” Starc said.
While Atkinson is one of many players in the England squad who haven’t played an Ashes Test Down Under, he pointed to the fortunes of England teams from series gone by to suggest that Perth was a more palatable starting option.
“I think there’s a few of us who haven’t really played many Test matches in Australia,” Atkinson said.
“So you know, there are no scars for me, but for some others, I can’t really speak for them, but history would say it’s probably a good thing we’re not starting at the Gabba.”
Despite speculation that CA may want Tests to go day five to boost the governing body’s coffers, McDonald said he had not felt any pressure on that front.
“Absolutely no directive from anyone ever, which has been the case through our cricket for a long time…that just doesn’t happen,” McDonald said.
“I’ve got no preference at all. I think if you try and curate rickets to suit a certain number of days, then I don’t think you’re doing your job properly. I just want a nice even contest between bat and ball and a really good game.”
There are nine milimetres of grass on the wicket, similar to previous years, although McDonald left the door ajar for further trimming.
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Originally published as We want the Gabba: Mitchell Starc admits players’ preference is to start Test series in Brisbane
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