Guide to the Ashes 2010 - Brisbane The Gabba Cricket Ground

Established in 1895 the Brisbane Cricket Ground is better known as 'The Gabba' as it is situated in the suburb of Woolloongabba, and is a totally different ground nowadays after a comprehensive redevelopment that was started in 1993.

Gone are the old stands, the fig trees, the famous dog track and the grassy hill to be replaced by a modern-looking bowl that hosted soccer matches in the 2000 Olympics and staged a rugby union Test match against the British Lions in 2001.

The new structures may lack some of the character of their predecessors but the spectator facilities are as good as they get. The ground is also the home of the Brisbane Lions AFL team and the Queensland Bulls cricket team for whom England all-rounder Ian Botham had a spell in 1987-88.

Established in 1895 and built on swampland, the Gabba hosted its first Test in 1931, previously Brisbane Tests had been held at the city's Exhibition Ground, where Don Bradman made his debut in 1928. The switch did not affect Bradman as he made 226 in his first Test at the Gabba, against South Africa, a mark that endures as the highest Test innings at the ground.

About half an hour's walk from the centre of Brisbane, the ground was the venue for the first-ever tied Test match in history. Frank Worrell's 1960 West Indies were the visitors and with Australia chasing 233 to win they forced three run outs as the scores finished level. There was not another tie in Tests for 26 years.

In 1988, another West Indian, Courtney Walsh, became the first bowler to take a hat-trick at the ground and in 1994 Australia's Shane Warne opened the Ashes series by routing England with figures of 8-71. For spectators there are around 50 bars and food areas in the ground, but if you take your own it has got to be in a container small enough to fit under your seat.

MATTER OF FACT
Ground: The Brisbane Cricket Ground
Capacity: 42,000
Located: Woolloongabba, Brisbane
Address: Brisbane Cricket Ground, Vulture Street, Woolloongabba, QLD 4151
Telephone: +61 7 3008 6166
E-mail: info@thegabba.org.au or reception@gabba.com.au
To get there: South Bank or Roma Street Stations (train) and shuttle bus
Stands: Western, Northern, Eastern, Southern

First Test: Australia v South Africa 27 November - 3 December 1931
First ODI: England v West Indies 23 December 1979
First Twenty20: Australia v South Africa 9 January 2006
Tests played: 52
Australia: Won 32, lost 8, drawn 11, tied 1
Highest team total: 645 (Aus v Eng 1946)
Lowest team total: 58 (Ind v Aus 1947 & Aus v Eng 1936)
Highest individual total: 226 DG Bradman (for Aus v SA 1931)
Highest partnership: 276 (DG Bradman & AL Hassett, 3rd wicket for Aus v Eng 1946)
Best bowling: 9-52 RJ Hadlee (for NZ v Aus 1985)
ODIs played: 63
Australia: Won 14, lost 13, no result 5 (neutral 31)
Highest team total: 303-4 (Ind v Aus 2004)
Lowest team total: 71 (Pak v WI 1993)
Highest individual total: 158 DI Gower (for Eng v NZ 1983)
Highest partnership: 206 (AC Gilchrist & ME Waugh, 1st wicket for Aus v WI 2001)
Best bowling: 5-25 IR Bishop (for WI v Pak 1993) & Shoaib Akhtar (for Pak v Aus 2002)

All information has been taken from A Fan's Guide to World Cricket, http://www.newhollandpublishers.com/ashes-2010-venues.asp

New Holland is a publishing house dedicated to the highest editorial and design standards. Our publishing programme also features the cream of new illustrated books from Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

New Holland publishes books on: Natural History, Travel, Food and Drink, Health and Fitness, Craft and Hobbies, Home and Garden, Reference, Sport and Adventure, Cadogan Guides, and Humour and Gifts.

www.newhollandpublishers.com