CA ties up deal with Brisbane venue as international tickets go on sale, while a couple of Aussie fast bowlers have been making headlines
Gabba future secured in new deal with CA
Australia's cricketing fortress in Brisbane has been guaranteed international matches for the next three summers – including confirmation of a coveted Ashes Test in 2017.
A joint deal between Cricket Australia, the Queensland Government and Brisbane City Council starts this summer with the Gabba hosting a day-night Test between Steve Smith's side and Pakistan.
The Gabba, which has had a $1m upgrade to its lighting ahead of this summer's day-night Test, has also been guaranteed Test cricket in 2018-19 – when India and Sri Lanka are due to tour – as well as an ODI or T20 International each season for the next three years.
CA's Executive General Manager of Team Performance Pat Howard welcomed the Gabba deal as a chance to continue Australia's Brisbane dominance.
"Australia’s record at the Gabba has been exceptional and the fact we remain undefeated at the Gabba since 1988 underlines that record," Howard said in a statement.
"As a consequence the Australian players always look forward to a Gabba Test.
"The first Gabba day-night Test will be a wonderful occasion. It’s a great opportunity for the Queensland fans to come in school holidays and it is an ideal way to celebrate the partnership with very accessible ticket pricing."
Former Australia quick and Queensland legend Michael Kasprowicz, the interim Queensland Cricket CEO, said he expected the Gabba's first pink-ball Test to be a compelling spectacle.
"Queensland Cricket is excited about the prospects of the day-night Test, and believe that the Gabba pitch, outfield and lighting will complement the pink ball and make for a competitive and entertaining spectacle," Kasprowicz said.
"Likewise, the return of England for an Ashes series next year is always eagerly anticipated. Australia’s First Test record at the Gabba is second to none and England always seems to struggle when they start a series here."
Tickets on sale for 2016-17 internationals
The deal comes as tickets go on sale for a blockbuster summer of international cricket that includes visits by South Africa, New Zealand and Sri Lanka as well as Pakistan, with entry-level tickets as cheap as $25 for adults.
However, the proposed day-night Test against South Africa is yet to be confirmed, and tickets for the third Commonwealth Bank Test against the Proteas in Adelaide will not go on sale until a start time for the Test is confirmed.
A CA spokesperson said: "Discussions with Cricket South Africa about the prospect of the match being played as a day-night Test are ongoing. Cricket Australia remains optimistic that the Adelaide match will be a day-night Test and is working to confirm details for this match in the coming weeks."
CA's wholesale review into ticket pricing has seen entry level tickets reduced to $25 for adults in Hobart and $30 in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Perth, Adelaide and Canberra.
The KFC T20 INTL series against Sri Lanka is yet to have venues confirmed and tickets are not yet available for those matches in late February.
Full details on ticket sales for the international summer are available via cricket.com.au/tickets
Gillespie's Yorkshire future in doubt
Bupa Support Team head coach Darren Lehmann has reportedly been courting former Test fast bowler Jason Gillespie as the hunt for a full-time fast bowling coach continues.
Gillespie has previously reaffirmed his commitment to Yorkshire, but as the opportunities prove ever more hard to resist the county is seemingly bracing for his eventual departure.
Lehmann is understood to have meet with Gillespie at Headingley over the weekend to sound him out about joining the Australian cricket team's coaching staff. Western Australia's Adam Griffith is filling the role on the current Qantas Tour of the Caribbean while former Proteas spearhead Allan Donald will step in for the Qantas Tour of Sri Lanka next month.
Gillespie took 259 Test wickets in a 10-year career and last summer and has previously expressed concern about the amount of travelling in a full-time international coaching role. Under his leadership Yorkshire won promotion back to Division One of the County Championship before claiming back-to-back titles in 2014 and 2015.
In response to media reports about his meeting with Lehmann, Gillespie was quick to tweet: "Don't believe everything you read..."
Lehmann, who is skipping the West Indies tri-series while Justin Langer takes the helm, is in the UK for the ICC's Cricket Committee meeting at Lord’s this week.
Siddle hits the training track
Australia fast bowler Peter Siddle has returned to the running track as he continues his rehabilitation from ankle and back issues.
Siddle picked up an ankle injury last summer in the Boxing Day Test against the West Indies, which ruled him out of the Sydney Test. He returned to play in the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington, but reported back pain during the match and scans later revealed back stress fractures.
With an extended period of rest on the sidelines, the 31-year-old Victorian took the opportunity to have surgery on his left ankle.
That surgery was successful and Siddle hit the running track for the first time this week in an important step back to cricket.
"Great to be back running today, it has been far too long!" Siddle wrote on his social media post, before adding "ankle ok".