Australian Cricket In 'Bitter' Feud Ahead Of Hosting India For Blockbuster Test Series

India will tour Australia towards the end of the year for a blockbuster four-match Test series. The last time Virat Kohli & Co. were in Australia, they had created history by powering India to their first-ever Test series win on the Australian soil. The world number one Test side had won the series 2-1.

But the forthcoming series is going to be more challenging for the visitors. Australia have been boosted by the return of Steve Smith and David Warner as well as the meteoric rise of Marnus Labuschagne. No surprises then that the cricket world is eagerly waiting for the series to take place.

What will make the series even more interesting is India finally agreeing to play a day-night Test in Australia. Cricket Australia had requested the BCCI for a day-night Test on the last tour too but the latter had rejected it due to lack of practise. However, Virat Kohli & Co. recently played their first-ever day-night Test and are now ready for the challenge Down Under.

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Feud ahead of series:

With India confirming that they are ready for the day-night Test, Australian cricket is reportedly involved in a bitter feud as speculation remains over where the fixtures will be played. While Adelaide Oval, the MCG and SCG are confirmed to host their traditional games, the Gabba and Perth Stadium are in a bitter feud for the remaining game.

Both grounds have recorded disappointing crowd numbers over the past couple of seasons. An aggregate of 45,991 attended this season’s Test against Pakistan at the Gabba, while the 60,000-capacity Perth Stadium has never achieved a crowd greater than 21,000.

Perth hosted India last season, the newly-developed stadium granted its maiden Test but could not attract big crowd. According to The Australian chief cricket writer Peter Lalor, a “bitter” feud is developing between the two cities, both eager to host a Test featuring the world’s number one cricket team.

“There’s great competition between Brisbane and Perth as to who gets an India Test,” Lalor told SEN.

“This is going to get bitter, particularly if Perth misses out. Perth are arguing they have a brand spanking new $1.4 billion stadium, whereas the Gabba is the least of the stadiums on the mainland and needs a lot of money injected into it.

“They’ll have the state government on their side and all that business. I know they’ve put in a proposal to Cricket Australia about why they should have the Test.

“I know that Cricket Australia wrote to CEOs on Monday or Tuesday saying no decision has been made, but I reckon it will probably play out the way we think which is that they’ll play in Brisbane,” he added.

Australia have a stunning record at the Gabba, having not lost a game at the venue since 1988. On their last tour, India had refused to play at the venue but are ready to play there in the upcoming series. The Gabba has traditionally hosted the opening Test of the Australian summer and it could work in its favour, according to Lalor.

“It is an established part of the calendar … The first Test of the summer is in Brisbane, it’s a banker. People like that routine,” Lalor said. “Australia does not lose there so you kick it off with a win.”