The Ashes is one of cricket’s oldest contests, created after a mock newspaper obituary in 1882 and represented by a small urn. The rivalry between Australia and England has influenced Test cricket for more than 100 years.England will face Australia in the first Test on Friday with what observers say is their most hostile bowling group in many years. For the first time since 1982, the opening match of an Ashes series in Australia will not be held at Brisbane’s Gabba.
Since 1986, the Gabba has hosted the first Test between the two sides, with Australia winning seven and drawing two of the 10 matches played there in that period.The last Ashes series in Australia that did not begin at the Gabba was in 1982, when the teams played a draw at the WACA in Perth.
Why the Gabba is not hosting the first Test
Although the Ashes feels proud of its long history, commercial decisions and new scheduling priorities have led to the Gabba losing hosting rights for the series opener.Perth Stadium has a 10-year agreement to host the first Test of the Australian summer, The Telegraph reported. The city has created a West Test festival around it and has enough hotel capacity for visiting supporters.Australia last lost an Ashes opener at the Gabba in 1986 to Mike Gatting’s England. They have not lost another Ashes Test at the ground since then.This year, the Gabba will host the second Test of the series from December 4-8. It will be the venue’s first day-night Ashes match. After that, the five-match series will move to Adelaide Oval from December 17-21 for its first daytime Ashes Test since 2013, when Mitchell Johnson took 7-40 in the first innings to set up a 218-run win for Australia. The Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the Boxing Day Test, and the Sydney Cricket Ground will stage the New Year’s Test from January 4-8.
The “Gabbatoir”
Former England player Chris Woakes called the absence of a Gabba opener a “one-percenter”, saying England teams need any help they can get on Ashes tours. Starting away from the Gabba might be one such small help.Teams often find it easier when they do not begin at the “Gabbatoir”, a name linked to the ground’s intense atmosphere. Located near Vulture Street in Brisbane’s industrial zone, the Gabba has a long record of difficult experiences for England teams.Several incidents there remain part of Ashes history. In 1954-55, Len Hutton’s decision to bowl first backfired before England recovered later in the series. In 2006-07, Steve Harmison’s first ball to second slip set the tone for a 5-0 whitewash. In 2013-14, Mitchell Johnson delivered a fierce performance that set the tone for the series. In the following Ashes, the Jonny Bairstow headbutt story broke during the Test. In the last series, Rory Burns was bowled by Mitchell Starc on the first ball at The Gabba.England will still play at the Gabba this time, but in the second Test under lights. The new order of Perth followed by Brisbane may create a different kind of challenge. But for now, England begin the series at Perth Stadium.It remains to be seen whether this change is a “one-percenter” in England’s favour or if results continue as before.Australia have won 13 and drawn two of the 15 Ashes Tests at home since England’s win in Sydney in 2011. Australia won the last home Ashes 4-0 in 2021-22 and retained the urn last year with a 2-2 draw in England.
