BRISBANE will pay the price for an ageing Gabba after a crack SACA presentation locked in the final, prized Test against India of a packed 2018-19 summer.
Australia will host India in a four-match Test series starting in November-December next year with Sydney and Melbourne certain to stage traditional holiday slots.
Perth – denied a Test match when India toured four years ago – will host Virat Kohli’s side at the glittering $1 billion, 65,000 capacity Burswood stadium. Sri Lanka will play two Tests in January 2019 almost certainly in Brisbane and Canberra.
Cricket Australia and the Board of Cricket Control India (BCCI) will next month finalise the 2018-19 tour schedule and determine if Adelaide stages its fourth day-night Test and first involving India.
“It hasn’t been discussed with the BCCI and I can’t assume anything but it would be nice to have the first day-night Test featuring India,” SACA chief executive Keith Bradshaw told The Sunday Mail.
“I think we would attract an enormous amount of overseas visitors if we did. We would certainly be keen to do that.”
Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, Pakistan and England have featured in day-night Tests seen as crucial to reviving interest in the longer format. India has been slow to warm to day night Test cricket but is integral to its success as cricket’s all powerful entity.
SACA and Queensland Cricket made presentations to Cricket Australia regarding hosting rights for an India Test during the lead up to the Ashes series opener at the Gabba. Adelaide’s regular sellouts including a record 55,000 cricket crowd on day one of the inaugural Ashes Test under lights and $550 million redevelopment has the venue ahead of the ‘Gabba in the pecking order to host India.
“We have talked with Cricket Australia, our attendances are the second best in the country, the pitch gets terrific reviews. There are a whole range of factors put forward. India is premium content, being a powerhouse,” said Bradshaw.
“We are putting our best foot forward.”
CA chief executive James Sutherland concedes it is a ‘concern’ public amenities and transport links hadn’t improved at the Gabba. Brisbane is ranked the fifth best cricket venue in Australia despite a 20-year masterplan for improvements. Brisbane fans will have to make do sharing a Sri Lanka Test series with Canberra while Hobart misses out on any Test.