Gabba’s First Test hopes alive as David Crisafulli dismisses comments
Queensland refuses to concede defeat in its bid to bring First Test cricket back to the Gabba, despite Cricket Australia’s public pledge to keep the opener in Perth.
Queensland is still in the fight to bring the first cricket Test back to the Gabba, as Premier David Crisafulli called Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird’s commitment to Perth “tongue-in-cheek”.
Mr Crisafulli said the government was still talking with CA about hosting the First Test of the 2028-29 summer – a blockbuster clash with India – once the deal with Perth expired.
It is despite Mr Baird telling a Perth luncheon on Friday there was “no doubt about it” Test series openers would stay in Perth.
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“The comments from Mr Baird were tongue-in-cheek and I spoke with him yesterday,” Mr Crisafulli said.
“I love Test cricket and I don’t like two-day Tests, which is why you should have a first test at a place you can get a spectacle.”
The First Ashes Test, won by eight wickets by Australia, only lastest two days out of a potential five due to multiple batting collapses on the Optus Stadium wicket.
The brutal loss of three-fifths of the match has cost CA $4m in revenue at a time when it recorded an $11m loss at its AGM.
Brisbane’s new Victoria Park stadium will host the First Test of the 2032-33 summer as part of a deal struck with CA.
“To my West Australian friends, all the best, congratulations on the 48-hour Test match, but it’s coming home to Brisbane and the deal’s done,” Mr Crisafulli said.
However pressure is mounting on Mr Crisafulli to win the First Test back for the Gabba before it is razed after the 2032 Games.
Mr Crisafulli said the government was negotiating with CA to return Test cricket to the Gabba after it misses out on a match in the summer of 2027.
“The reason why is because the former government couldn’t even give an indication of what on earth was going on with the Gabba – that’s heartbreaking,” he said.
“We’ve been able to rescue that and it’s only going to be a one-year hiatus.”
Federal government frontbencher and Queensland senator Murray Watt called for the First Test to return to the Gabba.
“All Australians know that a First Test, held at the Gabba, generally produces a good result for Australia,” he said.
“Why wouldn’t we want the best place to have it?
“The best place is the Gabba.”
Grifith University Institute for Tourism professor of practice Daniel Gschwind said losing the First Ashes Test was a significant loss for Queensland, especially as it demonstrated its capacity to host major sporting events ahead of the 2032 Olympics and Paralympics.
He said one only needed to look at the recent British and Irish Lions tour – which generated $55m for the state – to see the economic benefits the First Test would bring to Queensland businesses.
“If it is between WA and Queensland, that’s one state of origin we do want to win,” he said.
“The First Ashes Test brings hundreds of thousands of visitors, we’re talking enormous amounts of money, millions of dollars.
“We want to demonstrate Brisbane as the sporting capital of Australia ahead of 2032 – the Ashes are a terrific milestone for that.”
Despite the loss of revenue from the Perth Test, Travis Head’s history-making innings ensured day two was the most streamed Test day of all time on Kayo Sports.
And Perth enjoyed the highest average streaming audience of any Test match in Kayo history.
Channel 7 also recorded massive ratings while the Ashes has dominated newspapers and social media both in Australia and in the UK.
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Originally published as Gabba’s First Test hopes alive as David Crisafulli dismisses comments
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