Woakes: England happy to avoid 'Gabbatoir' opening

CHRIS Woakes believes Australia have gifted England a psychological boost by hosting this month's Ashes opener in Perth rather than their traditional stronghold at the Gabba.

- By RORY DOLLARD

Brisbane's cricketing cauldron has been home to the curtain-raiser between the two sides since 1986, with the hosts winning seven and drawing two of the ten subsequent Tests in South Australia.

England have collected some traumatic memories at the venue, including heavy losses on their past three visits, but organisers have decided to shake up the order this time around.

That means the opener on Friday November 21 will take place at Optus Stadium, a relative new build with no Ashes history, while the Gabba holds a day/night second Test from Friday December 5.

And recently retired all-rounder Woakes, who was part of Brisbane defeats in 2017-18 and 2021-22, thinks that could play into English hands.