The Gabba’s pace and bounce must be replicated at Victoria Park to continue Australia’s advantage over tormented touring cricket teams, Marnus Labuschagne says.
The Australian top-order batsman and former world number one delivered heartfelt praise for the Gabba’s history, but said a new 63,000-seat Brisbane Stadium would usher in a new era for cricket.
Labuschagne, who lists the Gabba as his favourite wicket to bat on, said the qualities of the old venue should be transferred to Victoria Park.
“I think the things that we love about the Gabba is the characteristics,” he said.
“The pace, the bounce and the fact that opposition come here and they struggle with the pace and we can get an advantage of having the first test here in a series.
“If those are the things we’re going to uphold in the new stadium, with more people, with more support, that’s what’s exciting and that’s a great opportunity for us to venture in with a new generation of players.
“With the quality of the stadium upgrade … it’s going to be awesome.”
Premier David Crisafulli said he favoured retaining a permanent wicket block at Brisbane Stadium to replicate the conditions of the Gabba.
“I think one of the great points of difference with the Gabba is the fact that it’s a permanent wicket,” he said.
“Who knows what happens in the future, and who knows who knows what bits of the iconic Gabba can be adapted into the new precinct.
“We have to recreate what we’ve got there, but take it to the modern era and in doing so, we make a compelling case to Cricket Australia why the First Test of the summer has to be held in Queensland, non-negotiable.
“It’s in their interest because of the record there on the first game over many years.”
Mr Crisafulli said the Gabba was part of Queensland’s identity, but its life had come to an end.
“We looked for every opportunity to make that work, but time and the logistics, it couldn’t be done we were very upfront and honest about that,” he said.