Brisbane Cricket Ground

Lore & Background

The land was set aside for use as a cricket ground in 1895, and the first match was held on 19 December 1896 between Parliament and The Press. The first Test match at the Gabba was played between Australia and England from 28 November to 4 December 1928. Between 1993 and 2005, the Gabba was redeveloped in six stages at a cost of A$128,000,000. The venue is slated for demolition following the 2032 Summer Olympics, to be succeeded by the future Brisbane Stadium in Victoria Park.

In Their Own Story

The afternoon sun beats down on the red dust of the Woolloongabba oval as the Australian captain walks out to the center square, eyes fixed on the opposition batsmen. The air hums with anticipation; this is the Gabba, a place where history is written in bounces and yorkers. As the bowler runs in, the crowd holds its breath, knowing that on this pitch, every delivery carries the weight of decades of rivalry and national pride.

Reader's Guide

The seating capacity was 42,000 in 2010, reduced in recent times due to new electronic scoreboards and corporate facilities. For international cricket matches, the capacity is reduced to 36,000 due to new scoreboards and the addition of a pool deck, as well as wider sight screens. For AFL matches the capacity is slightly larger at 37,478. The dimensions of the playing field are 170.6 metres (east-west) by 149.9 metres (north-south).

Did You Know?

• The Gabba was the first Australian venue to host an international Twenty20 cricket match.
• Australia has a formidable test match record at the Gabba: as of 2024, in 66 test matches played there, Australia has won 42, drawn 13, and lost 10.
• In 2021, India became the first Asian team to win a Test match at the Gabba.
• The first Sheffield Shield match at the Gabba was scheduled for 31 January 1931 but was washed out without a ball being bowled.