For the first time since 1982, the Ashes series will not begin at the iconic Gabba in Brisbane. Cricket Australia has made a decisive break from a 40-year tradition by moving the 2025–26 Ashes opener to Perth Stadium, a shift that reflects both changing priorities and the evolving landscape of Australian cricket.
The Gabba has long been associated with dominance. Australia’s formidable record there earned it the nickname “the Gabbatoir,” and visiting sides often viewed the first Test in Brisbane as the toughest entry point into an Ashes tour. That aura, however, hasn’t stopped decision-makers from rethinking the venue’s role in the modern era. This time, Perth has been favoured for the opening clash, with the day-night Test in Brisbane pushed to the second slot.
Several factors lie behind this move. Perth offers world-class facilities, a state-of-the-art stadium environment, and strong political backing from Western Australia, which has aggressively pursued higher-profile cricket matches. As Australia increasingly aims to diversify its marquee venues, Perth’s modern infrastructure gives it a compelling advantage over traditional grounds that are either aging or awaiting redevelopment. The uncertainty surrounding the Gabba’s long-term renovations for the 2032 Olympic Games has also contributed to its shifting status.
There is also a strategic angle. Scheduling the opener in Perth provides Australia with a different kind of home advantage — one built on pace, bounce, and a passionate local crowd eager to showcase their venue as the future face of major cricket events. In contrast, Brisbane’s climate and pitch characteristics, once considered essential to Australia’s early Ashes momentum, no longer hold the same exclusive appeal to administrators seeking to balance the calendar.
Reactions have naturally been mixed. Purists see this as a disruption of a long-standing ritual that defined the rhythm of Ashes summers. To them, a series starting away from Brisbane feels off-beat and historically incomplete. Others, however, welcome the change, arguing that tradition shouldn’t outweigh progress and that premier events should rotate among the nation’s top stadiums rather than remain locked to one city for decades.
Players are staying publicly neutral, but privately the shift will matter. Some Australian quicks love starting the summer at the Gabba, where conditions often suit them immediately. England, on the other hand, might quietly appreciate avoiding Brisbane’s intimidating opener — though facing a fired-up Perth crowd under bright lights is hardly a gentle introduction.
Regardless, one thing is clear: this marks a symbolic moment in Australia’s cricketing identity. The Gabba’s uncontested hold over the Ashes opener is broken, and Perth has seized its chance to set the tone for one of sport’s fiercest rivalries. Whether this becomes the new normal or remains a one-off experiment will depend on how well Perth delivers — and how the broader cricketing community reacts to a summer that begins far from the Gabbatoir for the first time in over forty years.
12BET Shortlisted for Sportsbook Operator of the Year at SBC Awards 2025