England's prospects of reclaiming the Ashes next winter are likely to improve, as they may avoid starting the series at Brisbane's Gabba, a venue that has historically spelled disaster for them.
Australia traditionally kicks off the Test summer at "The Gabbatoir," but the new Optus Stadium in Perth is set to take over as the opener for next winter’s Ashes due to a long-term hosting agreement. The last time an Ashes series in Australia began outside Brisbane was in 1982.
Perth has secured a contract to host the first Test for the next six summers, including a major series against India later this year.
England's record at the Gabba is abysmal; Australia remained unbeaten there from 1989 to 2019. England's last victory at the Gabba was in November 1986, with many of their series starting poorly at this ground.
Memorable low points at the Gabba for England include Nasser Hussain's controversial decision to bowl first in 2002 (Australia ended day one at 364 for two and won by 384 runs), Steve Harmison's infamous first ball wide in 2006, and Rory Burns being bowled out first ball by Mitchell Starc in 2021. In 2013, Mitchell Johnson's ferocious bowling at the Gabba contributed to Jonathan Trott returning home with a stress-related illness. In 2017, Australia's players stirred controversy with a story about Jonny Bairstow “head-butting” Cameron Bancroft, who later became central to the sandpaper scandal.
England has lost seven and drawn two of their matches at Brisbane since 1986. The draws in 1998 and 2010 were crucial, with the latter setting the stage for a remarkable series victory under Andrew Strauss’s captaincy.
Avoiding Brisbane as the series opener could be a relief for England, potentially preventing another disastrous start. Logistically, starting in Perth might also benefit players and fans. With fewer tour matches these days, England might opt for a team-building camp followed by a couple of fixtures in Australia rather than spending a month there before the first Test. Fans will also have the convenience of flying directly from London to Perth.
While the Gabba is seen as outdated among Australia’s main grounds, Optus Stadium offers a modern venue with a similarly lively pitch, where Australia has yet to lose a Test. In the 2021/22 season, the scheduled match at Optus was moved to Brisbane due to Western Australia’s strict Covid-19 regulations.
The exact schedule after Perth remains unclear, but Melbourne and Sydney are expected to host their traditional Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests, which will be a hit with England fans who missed out on the previous series due to the pandemic. The picturesque Adelaide Oval is likely to host a pre-Christmas match.