‘It’d be a sad day if we don’t get to play at the Gabba’ – Marnus Labuschagne laments as Cricket Australia retires venue for Tests

The Gabba, Brisbane. (Photo Source: Twitter/ICC)

Gabba has been touted as the Australian team’s fortress in Test cricket. When India outclassed Australia at Gabba in 2021, the win was among the most special, keeping the importance of the venue in mind. West Indies breached the fortress in 2024 and Brian Lara started weeping from the commentary box. But Cricket Australia has decided to retire the stadium as a Test cricket venue from hereafter.

Speaking of the development, Australia batter, Marnus Labuschagne has lamented the move as Gabba is his home ground. Moreover, Gabba has always been the venue, where Ashes commenced for four decades. Unfortunately, the 2025-26 Ashes will have no fixture at the renowned stadium. Speaking of the same, Labuschagne quipped that the move to discard Gabba as a red-ball venue is not ideal.

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“Every time we (Australia) don’t get to play at the Gabba, it’s disappointing for us as a playing group because we love the wicket at the Gabba. We love playing in Brisbane, we’ve got a really good record in Brisbane, so that (no Tests at the Gabba) is really not ideal,” Labuschagne said while speaking to Fox Sports.

“Hopefully, over the next couple of years, we can sort out the things that need to be done for us to be hosting Tests (at the Gabba) in the future. It’d be a sad day if we don’t get to play at the Gabba for a long period of time,” he added.

It is worth noting that, Australia have played 66 Tests at the Gabba since 1931 and have managed to win 42, highlighting their dominance in Brisbane. Moreover, Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley had recently stated that Gabba might find an end owing to plans being laid down for a bigger venue, with the 2032 Olympics on the cards.

“We welcome that there’ll be further investment in the near term, but … we think that the sports fans of Queensland deserve a brilliant, fit-for-purpose stadium for the longer term,” Hockley said.