Adele

THE Gabba is back to its bouncy, green best despite the attempts of Pommy singer Adele to sabotage Australia’s cricket fortress.

Curator Kevin Mitchell Jnr has prepared a classic Gabba greentop for the final time which has England’s suspect batsmen on notice.

Adele was a big success at the Gabba in March but the pitch had to be returfed

The famed Gabba wicket underwent a complete resurfacing following Adele’s knockout concert in March which chewed up the turf.

Australia has not lost a Test in Brisbane since 1988 and there were concerns over how their favourite wicket would recover from a major overhaul.

However Mitchell, who will retire following his 27th Test in charge, said the Gabba of old has bounced back.

“It’s very similar to the past,” he said ahead of tomorrow’s first day.

The Gabba is thought to be back to its classic best - so it should be a lively menace for England in the opening Test of the Ashes series Australia are strong favourites for the first match of the Ashes at Brisbane

“It’ll have a tinge of green which they normally do first day. There will be some sideways movement early and some seam and then settle down into a pretty good batting deck.

“We’re expecting everything to play pretty well. Obviously we had to returf which takes a bit of time to establish but we think we’re pretty right.

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“It was a really good bouncy deck in the Shield game that we had (last month).”

Australia has an affinity with the Gabba and Mitchell has helped prepare every wicket throughout their unbeaten run over the past 29 years.

His father, Kevin Mitchell Snr, was the head curator for Australia’s last loss to the West Indies and told his son to never make the same mistake twice.

Mitchell has never felt pressured to prepare a certain type of pitch, which often happens in the subcontinent, and said Australia felt comfortable starting the summer in Brisbane.

“We’ve prepared what we generally do,” he said.

“The weather serves up a few challenges here and there but I think the Aussies seem to feel comfortable here. They know what to expect.

“I’m pretty happy with that.”

Aussie batsman Peter Handscomb said the Gabba was a unique pitch which England had to overcome if they were to win in Brisbane for the first time since 1986.

“It’s pretty fast and bouncy,” he said.

England practice their slip catching ahead of the First Test this week Adele hit the Gabba for six with her concert in March - but now her fellow Poms hopes to be on song for the Ashes this winter

“That doesn’t happen too much in England.

“Our bowlers are flying in at the moment. They (England batters) will probably get a few around the ears and a couple of quick ones as well. It’s going to be entertaining.”

Mitchell said the pitch for this Test was the same used when Queensland won its historic first Sheffield Shield crown in 1995, a match that remains the highlight of his career.

The famous Gabba has rarely been a happy hunting ground for England

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