The Brisbane Cricket Ground is a multi-sport stadium situated in the capital city of the state of Queensland, which is the second-largest and third-most-populous state in Australia. The stadium is also called The Gabba.
Owned by the Queensland Government, the stadium’s average seating capacity is 41,974, which varies depending upon the sports discipline being hosted at the stadium. For international cricket matches, the capacity is 36,000 whereas, for Australian Football matches, it is 39,202. The capacity is expected to increase up to 50,000 for the 2032 Summer Olympics, which is scheduled to take place in Brisbane.
The Brisbane Cricket Ground pitch is naturally known for its pacy and bouncy nature, which assists pacers and batters, who have a good ability to play bouncers.
Talking about Australian domestic cricket, the Brisbane Cricket Ground is home to the Queensland Bulls, who are nine-time Sheffield Shield and 10-time Marsh One-Day Cup champions. The Gabba is also home to the Big Bash League 2012/13 champions Brisbane Heat.
The Brisbane Cricket Ground hosted its first-ever international cricket game in December 1931, which was a Test match between Australia and South Africa. The hosts registered a dominating win by an innings and 163 runs, where Sir Don Bradman scored a double century in the first innings and spinner Bert Ironmonger took nine wickets to cap off the victory.
The first ODI to be played on this ground was the seventh match of the Benson & Hedges World Series Cup 1979/80 between England and West Indies. The Windies won the match by nine wickets.
Here’s a look at the T20I records at the Brisbane Cricket Ground.
Brisbane Cricket Ground T20I records
Highest total: The highest total in a T20I match at the Brisbane Cricket Ground is 209/3 made by Australia in the only T20I of the South Africa Tour of Australia 2005/06. Interestingly, it was the first ever T20I played on this ground. A total of 11 players, five from Australia and six from South Africa, made their international debut in the 20-over format.
Opening batter Damien Martyn and all-rounder Andrew Symonds scored half-centuries to help the hosts post a daunting total of 209/3. In reply, a combined bowling effort from the Aussies bundled out the Proteas for 114, winning the match by 95 runs.
Lowest total: The lowest total recorded in a T20I match at The Gabba is 114/10 made by South Africa against Australia in January 2006. A disciplined bowling performance by the Kangaroos saw Andrew Symonds, James Hopes and debutants Nathan Bracken and Mick Lewis scalp two wickets each to bowl South Africa out for 114 while chasing 210.
Highest individual score: Former Australia opener Damien Martyn holds the record for the highest individual score in a T20I at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. He scored a 56-ball 96 against the South African team in the only T20I of the South Africa tour of Australia in 2005/06. The knock, played at a fantastic strike rate of 171.42, featured seven fours and five maximums.
Indian batter Shikhar Dhawan’s 42-ball 76 against Australia in the first T20I of the India tour of Australia 2018/19 is one behind the above-mentioned record set by Damien Martyn.
Best bowling: Aussie pacer Mitchell Starc holds the record for best bowling figures in a T20I match at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. In the second T20I of the West Indies tour of Australia 2022, the hosts posted a total of 178/7 courtesy of opener David Warner’s attacking 41-ball 75.
In reply, the Windies could only score 147/8 in their quota of 20 overs as their batters were no match to Starc’s breathtaking spell of 4/20. In the end, Australia won it convincingly by 31 runs.
Highest partnership: The Australian pair of Steve Smith and David Warner holds the record for the highest partnership of 117* runs at The Gabba. It is also the only century stand in international cricket recorded at the stadium in the 20-over format.
In the second T20I of the Sri Lanka tour of Australia 2019/20, the visitors posted an ordinary total of 117/10 in 19 overs.
Chasing 118, the hosts suffered an early blow when skipper Aaron Finch departed for a golden duck. Nonetheless, David Warner and Steve Smith stitched together an unbeaten 117-run partnership to guide their team to a nine-wicket win.
Featured photo: PATRICK HAMILTON / AFP
