Thanks Gabba, for the thrillers

Australia has decided to demolish Gabba, its cricket's true fortress over the years in the longest format

- Somshuvra Laha

KOLKATA: This isn't a eulogy, for the Gabba won't be pulled down till after the 2032 Brisbane Olympics. The closing act has been long announced though, fittingly in this summer's Ashes, setting a date for the quiet decommissioning of Australia's original fortress.

You read that right. Not the WACA ground of Perth, Gabba's where Australia have consistently rubbed in their home dominance. Of the 67 Tests Gabba has hosted till date, Australia have won 42, giving them a win percentage of 62.68%, significantly higher than WACA's 56.81%. More staggering though is how in comparison to the 11 matches Australia have lost at the WACA between 1970 and 2017, Gabba has witnessed just 10 defeats in 93 years.

Four of those, curiously, have come against West Indies. Take out the defeats of 2024 and 1968 and only twice have Australia lost to that world-beating West Indies team in 1984 and 1988 at the Gabba.

WACA, however, witnessed five losses, not only on those two tours but also in 1975, 1993 and 1997 when West Indies were either in the ascending or slipping from their prime.

These are telling numbers if you believe that some turfs can hold that sort of sway over and above the consolidated grit of visiting teams. Which also says something about India who have been unbeaten at the Gabba two tours in a row, starting with the epochal win in 2021. Gabba's record between 1988 and 2021? 24 wins, 7 draws.