The Gabba's Shifting Sands
Brisbane, the city where mangoes are carried down Queen Street, and the humidity hangs heavy, feels much as it always has. Yet, the aura surrounding the Gabba Test has undeniably changed. For over three decades, the Gabba was an Australian fortress, their teams seemingly unbeatable. The symbolic weight was significant; the last visiting team to win there was the legendary West Indies side of 1988. This narrative, however, is now a relic of the past.
Four years ago, India shattered this invincibility, orchestrating a monumental chase fueled by Cheteshwar Pujara's resilience and Rishabh Pant's audacity. Two years later, South Africa, despite losing in a mere two days, showcased the Gabba's capricious nature, highlighting how the pitch could just as easily have led to a South African victory. Then, in January of this year, the West Indies, a comparatively weaker team, experienced an improbable triumph, with young Shamar Joseph's impressive bowling performance denying Australia a seemingly comfortable chase.
These events underscore that the possibility of an upset is not merely wishful thinking, but a tangible reality. India understands their capacity to win, provided their batting clicks. The “if” is colossal, yet so is the potential reward: a series lead heading into the Melbourne and Sydney Tests, venues predicted to be more favorable to their style of play.
A Changed Landscape
The Gabba's position within the series schedule is another significant alteration. In Australia, a land renowned for its lengthy history and equally short memory, repetition establishes tradition. Brisbane's status as the season's opening Test became entrenched, irrespective of past variations. Visiting teams were expected to be trounced before even familiarizing themselves with the local geography.
However, Brisbane rarely holds the opening Test slot anymore. Under Cricket Australia’s current scheduling plan, this arrangement won’t be repeated for at least five seasons. This shift, while perhaps disorienting to some, imbues the Gabba Test with genuine context. Previously, the only question of interest centered around whether a touring team could leverage rain or a flat pitch to secure a draw. This year, however, we approach the Brisbane Test with a tied series (1-1) and heightened anticipation.
The Timing Factor
A third factor is the Test's pre-Christmas timing. Australia's winning streaks were often associated with November or December Tests. The two Australian losses here in the last four years occurred well into January, after the summer's heat had had several weeks to impact the pitch. The significance of this shift remains a matter of speculation, but it presents a possibility. The January Tests exhibited marked differences even before their outcomes.
Josh Hazlewood, boasting a remarkable Gabba record, is back, having made his debut with a 5 for 68 against India a decade ago. Pat Cummins, similarly, showcases a superior record at the Gabba compared to his overall career statistics. This return to earlier scheduling could potentially reinstate the historical norm, with Australia's fast bowlers overwhelming a batting lineup less adept at handling pace, bounce, and movement.
The Gabba's Green Deception
The anticipated scenario, on a pitch as verdant as an Irish stereotype, is the dominance of Australia’s fast bowlers. However, the Gabba’s surface can be deceptive, a lesson various visitors have learned to their detriment. The color can be misleading, and like cosmetics, often masks the underlying reality. Many Gabba Tests have been characterized by days of painstaking batting rather than explosive fast bowling displays.
Should the pitch indeed favor fast bowling, Australia faces two distinct challenges: a currently inconsistent batting order and the formidable Jasprit Bumrah. Similar to India's experience on spinning tracks against New Zealand, a home advantage with excessive pace could detrimentally affect Australia’s batting as much as the opposition's. Ultimately, the Gabba's pitch's behavior will decide the course of the match. History has shown that record analysis cannot predict its unpredictable nature.
The Sound of Kohli's Resolve: A Crack of Determination
The resounding CRACKKKK echoed through the Gabba and its surrounding Woolloongabba neighborhood, from Vulture Street to Stanley Street. However, it wasn’t the sound of Virat Kohli's bat connecting with a ferocious cover drive. It was the sound of him shattering one bat against another in the nets. It followed one of his most extended recent net sessions. Unlike some players who excessively use the nets, Kohli's sessions are typically focused and efficient, often concluding when he feels he's achieved his goals, as seen in Perth and Adelaide during the first two Tests.
His session in Adelaide on December 10th, however, demonstrated an extraordinary intensity. He engaged with fast bowlers, spinners, and throwdown specialists. Even after the initial batters rotated, he remained, having a long discussion with coach Gautam Gambhir, then instructing the throwdown specialists, Raghu and Nuwan: “Bowl fast.” He faced them for nearly half an hour, focusing on his footwork and body weight transfer, culminating in a powerful drive reminiscent of his Perth century.
While he joked around later after smashing his bats together in Brisbane, a clear determination was evident. Kohli was seeking to rectify his recent struggles against the length delivery on fourth stump, a delivery that has been his undoing three times in this series, courtesy of Hazlewood, Starc, and Boland.
He spent almost two hours in the nets on Thursday, a testament to his dedication. He worked tirelessly on his back-and-across movement, and the forward body weight transfer needed to connect solidly with the ball. He recalled his 2020-21 SCG philosophy, explaining his focus on pushing forward in Australia, unlike his more patient approach in England. He's historically had a rapid back and across trigger movement in Australia, immediately leaning forward for balance and solid contact.
Kohli’s recent dismissals reveal a lack of stability. His attempts to overcome this have involved adjusting his stance. His intense practice session, including numerous plays and misses, displayed a master batter dissecting his game to rediscover his peak form. The final moments of his net session were a mix of frustration and power, with misses followed by aggressive drives. While his readiness remains uncertain, his commitment is undeniable, and all of India hopes the only sound emanating from his bat in the coming days is the sound of him dominating the Australian attack.
