Push to return First Test to the Gabba for a final hurrah
The Queensland government is in talks with Cricket Australia to bring the First Test back to the Gabba before it is bulldozed.
Talks are under way that could see the first cricket Test returned to the Gabba before the iconic fortress is bulldozed after the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Pressure is mounting on Premier David Crisafulli, who acknowledged the first ball of this summer’s blockbuster Ashes contest would “sadly” be bowled in Perth, to stump up cash and lobby Cricket Australia to return the First Test to the Gabba.
Cricket Australia’s three-year deal with Western Australia expires after next summer, meaning the First Test of the 2028-29 summer, which would be a blockbuster clash with India.
THE GABBA IS OUR SECRET WEAPON. READ TODAY’S EDITORIAL AND JOIN THE DISCUSSION
It is understood the Queensland government is in talks with the sport’s governing body about scheduling, and cricket sources said hosting the First Test has been discussed.
A deal has not been reached.
While Mr Crisafulli on Thursday criticised the loss of the First Test, neither he nor Sport Minister Tim Mander publicly detailed what the government was doing to get it back.
“The Gabbatoir has been the First Test Fortress for the Australian men’s cricket team for decades and would have remained so if not for the Games chaos caused by the former Labor government,” Mr Mander said.
“We are proud to be bringing the First Test home to Queensland in 2032-33 and to have secured the future of Test Cricket in Queensland with a new world-class stadium at Victoria Park.”
Cricket Australia was contacted for comment.
■ Explained: Why Gabba won’t host the first Test
The Gabba will be left off the 2026-27 summer schedule for the first time in 50 years after the former state Labor government failed to strike a deal with Cricket Australia.
The then government had no plan for where cricket would be played while the Gabba was being demolished and rebuilt under an Olympic stadium plan.
Instead, Queensland Cricket was told to stump up cash to help rebuild the RNA Stadium, which stakeholders said was unlikely to host an international Test match.
Former fast bowler Michael, Kasprowicz, who played 19 summers for Queensland, strongly supports the push to play a final First Test there.
“It’s a great idea. The Gabba needs a last hurrah and having the First Test of a summer would be the way to do it,” he said.
“The Gabba hasn’t always held the First Test, but for a long time it was part of the Queensland calendar and when it changed it put a lot of people out, particularly from the country, who would make a pilgrimage for that match.
“You would hear stories about people not missing that First Test for 20 years.
“To have the First Test again would be a fitting swan song for one of the world’s iconic cricket grounds.
“Overseas teams always struggled when they landed in Brisbane for the First Test – that’s the beautiful part about the Gabba.”
Test great Jeff Thomson, who terrorised England in the 1974-75 Ashes at the Gabba and met his wife Cheryl at the ground, said a final First Test would be a winner with fans.
“The thing about the Gabba being knocked down is that you cannot take the history with you,” he said.
“You feel like it is lost and thrown away. The deeds of Greg Chappell and Ian Healy and people like that.
“For that reason alone it would be good to have a final First Test given that history is going out the window.
“Last time we were in England the Poms took us to Edgbaston for the First Test where we normally play shit. Why wouldn’t we do the same to them?
“The Poms always struggle first up at the Gabba because of the heat.‘’
The last time Australia lost a First Test at the Gabba was in the 1988-89 summer against the West Indies.
A push to play international cricket at the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games could see the gold-medal match as the Gabba’s swan song.
Victoria Park will host the First Test of the summer after the 2032-33 Olympic and Paralympic Games under a deal struck between the state government and Cricket Australia.
The First Test will be provided in exchange for Cricket Australia – unlike the AFL – not providing a cash contribution to build the stadium.
Cricket Australia chair Mike Baird in March said the sporting code would deliver hundreds of millions of dollars of economic benefits to Brisbane.
“In terms of the opportunity, how can we contribute? Well, through economic activity that’s driven by marquee events so we’ve confirmed today marquee events are being provided that otherwise wouldn’t be.”
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Originally published as Push to return First Test to the Gabba for a final hurrah
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