Former Australian captain Allan Border has suggested that The Gabba cricket ground in Brisbane should be demolished and replaced with a new multi-sport stadium in preparation for the 2032 Olympics. Despite The Gabba's reputation as a fortress for the Australian cricket team, it is also remembered as the venue where India secured a historic 2-1 victory in the 2021 Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
The Queensland government had initially planned a $2.7 billion overhaul of The Gabba but later decided to allocate that budget to upgrade other facilities like the Queensland Sport and Athletics Centre (QSAC), Suncorp Stadium, and The Gabba itself. However, Border advocates for a complete rebuild at Victoria Park, envisioning a modern 60,000-seat stadium designed for rugby, cricket, Aussie rules, and Olympic events. He even suggested that the current Gabba site could be converted into housing.
A separate $3.4 billion proposal to construct a new oval stadium at Victoria Park was also rejected, adding to the uncertainty surrounding The Gabba’s future. This uncertainty has led to Brisbane potentially missing out on hosting Test matches for the next seven years.
Border expressed concern over the lack of clarity: "They haven't got any certainty about the Gabba, so we're off the roster... probably over the next four years if they can use the Gabba or not."
Former Australian wicketkeeper Ian Healy echoed these concerns, noting Cricket Australia’s anxiety about Brisbane’s cricketing future, especially with state elections scheduled for October this year. Healy highlighted that Brisbane could miss out on hosting high-profile matches, leaving it behind in the race compared to other states investing heavily in stadium infrastructure.
The upcoming third Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy between Australia and India, scheduled at The Gabba in December, maybe one of the last significant matches held there until these issues are resolved.