Blockbuster five-match series against India revealed

Australia is undefeated in 31 season-opening Tests at the Gabba since 1989.

The side’s only two Test defeats at the ground in that time have come when it closed out the summer schedule, including a series-deciding loss to India in 2021.

Organisers of the Brisbane Olympics had originally planned to redevelop the Gabba as the centrepiece of the 2032 Games but scrapped the contentious proposal earlier this month.

Cricket Australia operations chief Peter Roach said the hard and fast Optus Stadium pitch in Perth, where Australia has won all four Tests it has played at the relatively new venue, was now more than comparable to the one traditionally used at the Gabba.

“The clear advice from our national team is there is a preference to start series strongly at venues where they’re really comfortable,” he said.

“Perth and Brisbane they believe are somewhat comparable in terms of the advantage they get, in that they’re the hardest and bounciest pitches in Australia.

“With Perth and the Gabba, I think the gap has really closed in recent times in the way our players think about that.”

Adelaide will host the day-night Test this series after Australia’s upset loss — its first in a pink ball test match — to West Indies at the Gabba last season.

Australia will also play a three-match ODI series and three T20Is against Pakistan over two weeks starting November 4.