Gabba to host 2021-22 Ashes opener

The Gabba has been locked in to host the first Test of the 2021-22 Ashes series as it was confirmed the Brisbane venue will soon undergo a $35 million facelift.

The Queensland government has announced a $35m redevelopment plan for the Test ground.

Public, corporate and media facilities at the Gabba will be upgraded before it hosts matches during the 2020 men's Twenty20 World Cup.

Cricket Australia (CA) broke with tradition last year, scheduling the first home Test of the season in Adelaide rather than in Brisbane.

Australia lost that match and went on to suffer their first home Test series loss to India.

Tim Paine's team have made it clear to CA their strong preference is to start every Test summer at the Gabba, a venue where Australia haven't lost a Test since 1988.

That request was approved in this summer's schedule, with the first Test between Australia and Pakistan to start on November 21 in Brisbane.

"It's certainly pretty clear that our playing group believe it's a great place to start the summer," CA head of cricket operations Peter Roach said last month.

"The players are pretty happy to be back there for the first Test."

England have lost four of their past five Tests at the Gabba, with the exception being the drawn first Test in 2010 that set the tourists up for a breakthrough series win.