The third Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test match between India and Australia will commence at the Gabba in Brisbane from Saturday.
Australia romped home to a 10-wicket victory in the previous Test in Adelaide to pare the series at one match apiece. With the race for the World Test Championship in its home stretch, the third match of the series will bear great consequences for both sides.
The Gabba was often referred to as the fortess for Australia since the side had not lost a game here between 1988 and 2021. The 33-year-long streak was broken by India, when it won by three wickets during its last tour Down Under.
The last time Australia played here it suffered an eight-run defeat at the hands of West Indies.
Test record at Brisbane Cricket Ground (since 2000)
Matches played: 24
Australia won: 18
Australia lost: 2
Drawn: 4
Team batting first won: 10
Team bowling first won: 10
Highest team score: Australia 602/9d vs England (2006)
Lowest team score: New Zealand 76 all out vs Australia (2004)
Pitch Report
The venue has an average first-innings score of 349 in the previous 24 Tests since 2000. However, in recent years, teams have also made the most of the fresh wicket with the ball. In the last three years, the team batting first has failed to cross 200 runs twice.
The pitch at Brisbane has overwhelmingly supported pace and bounce, like most Australian venues. In these 24 Tests, pacers have 561 wickets at an average of 31. Spinners in comparison have scalped 142 wickets at a much-higher average of 42.
There is no considerable advantage to the spinners even as the pitch wears during a Test. The tweakers have accounted for just 19 wickets across the 16 fourth-innings played at the Gabba.
India’s 329-run chase is the highest at the venue. The next best is Australia’s 128 against India in 2014.
Toss factor
The toss stats are even at the Brisbane Cricket Ground. Since 2000, 16 times a captain has won the toss and opted to bat first. However, only six times the team has secured a win. Eight times the team winning the toss and opting to bat has lost.
The team winning the toss and bowling has secured just two wins out of eight occasions.
In a bid to avoid chasing in the fourth innings under pressure, the captain winning the toss on Saturday is likely to opt to bat.