A new cricket wicket designed to carry The Gabba's playing characteristics into Brisbane's future stadium is being developed in Queensland, with construction and testing work scheduled to begin at The Gabba this year. The Queensland Government announced the plan on Monday, 21 September 2026, saying the hybrid wicket would eventually be transferred to the new Brisbane Stadium after the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The project is intended to help Brisbane maintain its position as a host city for international cricket while the city's major sporting infrastructure changes ahead of the 2032 Games. The Gabba is expected to remain an important cricket venue through the current transition period, while the new Brisbane Stadium at Victoria Park is being developed as a major multi-purpose sporting venue.

Under the plan, a full-sized wicket tray will be installed alongside the existing wicket block at The Gabba during September 2026. The new wicket will use the same dimensions, clay base, soil and turf as the existing Gabba surface. The intention is to create a playing surface that can be tested over several years before being moved to the new stadium.

Testing is expected to take place in stages. During 2027 and 2028, the wicket is scheduled to be monitored through training sessions, intra-squad matches and lower-level domestic cricket. The surface is then expected to undergo testing under first-class cricket conditions during the 2028-29 period. This extended testing process is designed to allow grounds staff to assess how the wicket performs and make adjustments before it is eventually transferred.

The proposed timeline places the transfer of the contemporary wicket after the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The Queensland Government expects Brisbane Stadium to be ready to host its first international cricket season during the 2032-33 season. The stadium is being developed at Victoria Park and is intended to accommodate multiple major sporting events.

The new wicket is also planned to work alongside wicket blocks transferred from The Gabba once the existing venue is decommissioned. Officials say this hybrid approach is intended to preserve characteristics associated with The Gabba while providing new infrastructure for the future stadium.

The Gabba has a long association with international cricket in Brisbane, including Test matches and international limited-overs fixtures. Maintaining a suitable cricket surface at the new stadium is therefore an important part of the city's future sporting infrastructure planning.

Stadiums Queensland officials said the project would involve consultation with cricket experts from Australia and New Zealand. The Gabba grounds team will also be involved in developing and refining the wicket, including decisions involving tray design, clay type, soil depth and turfing methods.

The project comes as Brisbane prepares for major changes to its sporting infrastructure ahead of the 2032 Games. The new Brisbane Stadium is planned as a venue for multiple sports and events, while the wicket project is specifically intended to make international cricket possible at the venue after the Olympics and Paralympics.

For cricket supporters in Brisbane, the plan provides a long-term pathway from The Gabba to the new stadium. Rather than simply replacing the existing playing surface, the project will involve several years of testing before the new wicket is moved.

The first practical step is scheduled for September 2026, when the full-sized wicket tray will be installed at The Gabba. Further testing and development will continue through the following years, leading towards the planned move to Brisbane Stadium after the 2032 Games.