Cricket: Pitch to set batsmen hopping

The Gabba. Photo / Getty Images

Batsmen have been warned; Gabba curator Kevin Mitchell is set to unveil a pitch not used for 15 years for this week's first test against New Zealand.

And he's promising the fast-medium bowlers in both teams should enjoy themselves on a spicy strip which he reckons will have the batsmen hopping, especially early on.

The celebrated Brisbane ground is Australia's "banker". They have not lost a test at the Gabba for a remarkable 23 years, although New Zealand did achieve one of their finest wins on the ground, courtesy of Richard Hadlee's 15 for 123 in 1985.

"I honestly cannot remember the last time I used it for a test and it has not been used in the Sheffield Shield this season," Mitchell said of what he calls his No 4 strip.

Last season the Gabba pitch was a batting delight for the Ashes test, with 1365 runs being scored and only 22 wickets falling. Not this time, by the sound of things.

"It will be a very different pitch and the fast bowlers should love it because it will move around a lot more," Mitchell said.

While Australia's raw seamers, three of whom have yet to play a test - Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Ben Cutting - are excited by the prospect, so should New Zealand's likely test trio, Chris Martin, Tim Southee and Doug Bracewell be, with Trent Boult the favourite among the quartet to sit out the test.

Southee had Australia 23 for three on his first appearance there three years ago, Martin is a highly seasoned veteran new ball bowler and Bracewell has made an encouraging start to his international career and gets the ball through sharply.

Mitchell knows Australia enjoy coming to Brisbane.

"I think they pretty much feel like they own the place. They are always very confident coming here," he said.

"It's probably become a bit of a mental barrier for other sides coming here."

The rain forecast for Thursday could help to keep the pitch fresh for the seam bowlers.

Since losing to the West Indies in 1988, Australia have played 22 tests in Brisbane, winning 16 and drawing the other six. Overall they have won 32 of the 53 played in the city, losing eight.

By David Leggat