Brisbane Cricket Ground, known affectionately as ‘The Gabba’, looks set to be scrapped as a test venue.
Cricket Australia are reportedly aiming to shelve the stadium after the Olympic Games in 2032, with representatives claiming that The Gabba has reached the ‘end of its useful life’.
While the sport will mourn the loss of one of the most iconic grounds in world cricket, the news will surely be met with joy by England… who have suffered more than most at the stadia nicknamed ‘The Gabbatoir’.
Ashes to Ashes
Although the future of the Brisbane Cricket Ground is uncertain at best, it will still take on hosting duties for the 2025/26 Ashes series.
Hosts Australia (8/13) are the favourites for that in the betting online with Paddy Power, with England (13/5) as they look to end a winless run Down Under that dates back to 2010/11.
A bet calculator confirms that a £10 wager on England to win the Ashes would return £36, which gives an indication of the underdog status of Ben Stokes’ men.
England won’t be able to escape The Gabbatoir either, with the Brisbane Cricket Ground set to host the second test of that Ashes series, with the game to be played under day/night rules with a pink ball.
🚨 Men’s Ashes 2025-26! 🏟
— England Cricket (@englandcricket) October 16, 2024
Dates and venues have been confirmed and released 📝 👇
🇦🇺 #AUSvENG 🏴 | #EnglandCricket
It’s all change in Perth too, with the first test to be played at the Optus Stadium; the first time that the venue will have hosted an Ashes encounter, replacing the traditional stop-off at the Waca.
The Adelaide Oval will welcome the third rubber of the series, before the customary Boxing Day test will unfold at its spiritual home of the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The fifth and final game will be played at the Sydney Cricket Ground… at which point the Ashes urn will be awarded to the winning (or retaining if a draw) team.
But who will that be?
The Gabbatoir
Brisbane Cricket Ground has taken on a life of its own as far as Australian cricketing heritage is concerned.
There’s nothing particularly unique or noteworthy about The Gabba compared to other venues, but it has taken on a life of its own as a ground at which Australia are almost invincible… and at which England crumble.
Good afternoon from the Gabba ☀️ pic.twitter.com/rEGbQi0Gyx
— Cricket Australia (@CricketAus) January 25, 2024
At the time of writing, 66 test matches have been played at The Gabba. Australia have won 42 of them, drawn 13, lost ten and tied in another. But it’s their modern day record that is most impressive: the Aussies didn’t lose a single test there between 1988 and 2020… hence the ground’s visceral nickname.
But then India came to town… and shattered the reputation of The Gabba. They won a test at the Brisbane Cricket Ground in January 2021, claiming a three-wicket victory thanks largely to the exploits of Mohammed Siraj with the ball and Rishabh Pant with the bat.
England, meanwhile, have only won twice at The Gabba since the Second World War, which includes failing to register a single victory at the venue since 1986.
They’ll be delighted to hear of The Gabba’s demise… even if many Australians will be devastated at the loss of an icon of world cricket.
