Warne says Gabba is unrivalled

SHANE Warne has claimed the Gabba boasts the best pitch in the world, as pressure mounts on Cricket Australia to bring India to Brisbane next summer.

Yesterday, Australia began its mission to extend its unbeaten streak in Brisbane to 31 years by toppling Pakistan at the Gabba in the first Test of the summer.

Not since 1988 has Australia lost a Test match at the Gabba – an incredible record that is not lost on those wearing the baggy green. But the Gabba is set to miss out on the chance to host a blue-chip Test against India next summer during the four-match series.

The MCG and SCG are guaranteed the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests respectively in 2020-21, while Brisbane is jostling for a Test with the outstanding Perth and Adelaide venues.

But the Gabba has found an ally in Warne, the Australian spin king (above) who loved bowling on the bouncy, greentinged Brisbane wicket.

“I think this is the best cricket pitch anywhere in the world,” Warne said on Fox Cricket yesterday.

“I think there is a bit in it early for the seamers – it then gets a bit quicker and flattens out a bit.

“It’s good for batting and spins big, and the bounce, a nice even cover of grass, a bit of a green tinge to it, a few little cracks … all in all it’s a terrific pitch I thought.”

The Australian players would privately love to kick off next summer’s series against India in Brisbane, given the psychological advantage they would have. But after beating Australia 2-1 in last summer’s series, when the Gabba was overlooked as a host venue, India is keen to avoid a trip to Queensland.

S MASOOD c Smith b Cummins...27 A ALI c Burns b Hazlewood ......... 39 H SOHAIL c Paine b Starc .............. 1 A SHAFIQ b Cummins .................. 76 B AZAM c Burns b Hazlewood ........ 1 I AHMED c Labuschagne b Lyon ..... 7 M RIZWAN c Paine b Cummins .... 37 Y SHAH b Starc ............................ 26 S AFRIDI c Paine b Starc ................ 0 N SHAH c&b Starc ......................... 7 I KHAN not out .............................. 5 Extras (0wd, 1nb, 8lb, 4b) .......... 13

75 (Masood) 75 (Ali) 77 (Sohail) 78 (Azam) 94 (Ahmed) 143 (Rizwan) 227 (Y Shah) 227 (Afridi) 227 (Shafiq) 240 (N Shah)

Starc 18.2-5-4-52, Lyon 17-3-1-40, Hazlewood 20-6-2-46, Cummins 21-6-3-60, Labuschagne 8-0-0-24 Smith 1-0-0-6