‘Makes no sense’: Warner reveals Aussies’ bid for Gabba opener ignored in ‘bizarre’ process

David Warner has revealed the Australian players raised concerns around leaving The Gabba for the first Test of the summer amid their horror start to the 2025 Ashes series.

Australia have a formidable record when opening a summer of Test cricket at The Gabba in Brisbane, having not lost a Test since 1980.

However, Cricket Australia made the call to move the first Test of the summer to Perth for undisclosed reasons likely linked to raised revenue.

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Last summer, Australia lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series opener against India at Perth Stadium by 295 runs and they are staring down the barrel of back-to-back defeats at the venue, with England leading by 40 on the first innings after bowling the hosts out for 132.

Australian spearhead Mitchell Starc lit the fuse on the issue ahead of the Ashes series with a not so subtle dig at Cricket Australia.

“(They) don’t listen to players,” Starc told reporters in Perth on Wednesday.

“We would have liked to start in Brisbane too.”

On Day two of the first Test with England in command, Adam Gilchrist asked England great Michael Vaughan and Warner if they had ever been consulted on venues as players.

“In your playing careers do you ever recall being asked as a team or as a captain where would your team prefer to start the series?” Gilchrist asked on Fox Cricket.

“Never,” Vaughan said.

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Steve Smith’s side could only manage 132 in their first innings.Source: AFP

“We have never been asked, but we did ask why we were leaving The Gabba,” Warner said.

“Yeah after the horse had been thrown out of the gates,” Gilchrist added.

Warner revealed Cricket Australia’s win first mentality at the time of the decision was at odds with the call to move away from the happy hunting ground at The Gabba.

“It was a weird one because we were just wondering, at that time the Australian team were addressed by the Cricket Australia hierarchy saying that it was basically win at all costs,” Warner said.

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“And we were talking about our situation and if that’s what we are talking about, if we have got to try and win every game, then why are we moving away from The Gabba?

“So it makes no sense if you are telling us one thing and then you are doing the other, whether it is revenue based or whatever it is, you have got to identify that the product is there to play the game of cricket and win games for Australia.”

Warner explained that playing at the Gabba first not only gives the hosts an advantage, but it doesn’t allow the opposition the chance to settle into the series from both a bowling and batting perspective.

“As a player, one as a batsman and you are playing there and then you come over to the WACA, you can get two solid attempts before the opposition team get to settle on a length,” Warner said.

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“The fast-bowlers get to settle into a nice rhythm with the bouncy tracks and then you go down to Melbourne.

“It was just a whole bizarre process and it was never really explained.

“What a remarkable venue we have here and it’s not taking away from where we are today. It is just more about the tradition and the history and never losing at The Gabba, why would you take it away?”

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However, Vaughan countered that Australia have just played poorly in Perth and need to be better, no matter the venue.

“Yeah, but Australia have got to be honest, 132 on this pitch, it has nothing to do with where the Ashes has started, they have just not played well enough,” Vaughan said.

“They have been blown away by pace.”

CA boss Todd Greenberg questioned how much of an davantage The bGabba would have given Australia on SEN radio.

“I know Mitch was talking about the Gabba, I’m not sure if he’ll want to take that back after his seven-for yesterday,” Greenberg quipped.

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“But does the Gabba genuinely give us an advantage, I’m not sure. Particularly with the pace attacks of these teams, I’m not sure it is an advantage.

“I understand why the team would want certain things and the team would understand why I would need certain things.

“Ultimately, it’s my job then to thread the needle and make a decision that I think is best for Australian cricket, which is what we’ve done here.”