Trans-Tasman rivalry by the numbers

27 years since Australia were beaten at the Gabba. That was 1988, when Bob Hawke was Prime Minister, Home & Away was launched on our televisions, and swimmer Duncan Armstrong won Olympic gold for Australia. Ever since that nine-wicket defeat by the Windies, the ‘Gabbatoir’ has been the Test team’s most productive venue, with 19 wins and seven draws.

62.70 Joe Burns’ Shield average as an opener at the Gabba – the role and the venue at which he’ll be asked to do the business tomorrow alongside David Warner. Speaking of…

15 runs scored by David Warner on his Test debut, a double of three and 12 not out, which happened to be against New Zealand, at the Gabba, four years ago. Since, the dynamic opener has made scores of 4, 49, 124, 29 and 6 at the venue, for a total of 227 runs at 37.83.

Image Id: ~/media/923AB6702D474B2C9CA41BE513A28866

6 members of the Black Caps squad who have played a Test at the Gabba: Brendon McCullum (2), Tim Southee (2), Ross Taylor (2), Martin Guptill (1), Kane Williamson (1) and Doug Bracewell (1). Among those, there’s not a century or a five-wicket haul to mention.

30 wickets taken by Mitchell Johnson at the Gabba, at five wickets per Test. That puts him fifth on the list of Gabba wicket-takers, behind Shane Warne (68), Glenn McGrath (65), Craig McDermott (40) and Dennis Lillee (31). The left-arm quick has also enjoyed the venue with the bat, averaging 39.33 with a pair of fifties.

106 Test hundreds scored at the Gabba, by 67 different players in 57 matches. Former Australia captains Michael Clarke and Greg Chappell lead the way, with five apiece, while Sir Donald Bradman made three centuries at the ground in seven innings: handy contributions of 226, 187 and 185. West Indian legend Clive Lloyd is the only visiting player to score multiple hundreds at the ground, having done so twice.

2 hat-tricks taken at the Gabba in Tests. One was by Courtney Walsh in that last Australian defeat back in ’88-89, and the other was by current Aussie squad member Peter Siddle, on his birthday no less, during the 2010-11 Ashes.

Image Id: ~/media/C3BA93BEA65D4478B10138A38FAACCB4

34 occasions the team has won the toss and chosen to bat first in the 57 Tests the Gabba has hosted. That decision has resulted in 14 wins, 10 losses, nine draws and a tie. Of the 23 occasions the team winning the toss has sent the opposition in, they’ve won nine, lost 10 and drawn four.

329* The highest partnership ever seen in Tests at the Gabba, shared by Alastair Cook (235no) and Jonathan Trott (135no) five years ago in the first Ashes Test, which ended in a draw. 

61 The highest score by a No.11 at the Gabba, made by none other than Glenn McGrath, during his epic century stand with Jason Gillespie against the Black Caps in 2004. It’s the only half-century by a No.11 at the ground; Josh Hazlewood’s 32no on debut last year is next best. 

Image Id: ~/media/7E7F88AE1D53405B9300A67FBB72C1AD

6 runs needed by Brian McKechnie off the final ball at the MCG in 1981. He was at long odds to hit a six off the final ball and tie the one-dayer, but Greg Chappell took no chances - ordering brother Trevor to bowl an underarm delivery.

43,000 people - which remains a record for a cricket match in New Zealand - turned out at Eden Park in 1982 to jeer Australia the first time they crossed the ditch after the underarm match. The hosts got up by 46 runs.

37 runs, the margin of New Zealand's upset World Cup win. Defending champions Australia were expected to easily account for co-hosts New Zealand in the tournament opener, but Martin Crowe scored a century to guide his side to victory.

99 runs scored by Shane Warne at the WACA in 2001. Warne fell one run short of a maiden Test century when he picked out Mark Richardson in the deep. Replays showed Daniel Vettori overstepped and it should have been a no-ball.

Image Id: ~/media/E6287FD943EC449E853048338B72B483

346 The total chased down by New Zealand to win the Chapell-Hadlee series at Seddon Park in 2007. The Black Caps got home by one wicket in a final-over thriller, thanks to Craig McMillian's ton and McCullum's unbeaten 86.

2009 at the WACA, when Brad Haddin's gloves were in front of the stumps and knocked off the bails, but Neil Broom was incorrectly given out. Vettori felt Haddin should have made an effort to keep Broom at the crease, while the keeper called Vettori's response "poor" and "low".

2010 when Mitchell Johnson and Scott Styris were fined by the match referee at McLean Park, with umpires noting Johnson approached Styris and made deliberate and inappropriate physical contact. Styris steered his side to a final-over win.

Image Id: ~/media/8A5841065FCD4EF5AE7837109AE2CDBA

7 runs was the margin when the Black Caps completed remarkable seven-win run, Bellerive Oval: New Zealand celebrated their first Test win on Australian soil since 1985, getting up by seven runs despite centurion David Warner carrying his bat in the final innings.

7 wickets was the margin in Australia's World Cup final walloping of New Zealand at the MCG in early 2015. A thrilling pool encounter between the co-hosts, which ended with Kane Williamson lofting a six to seal a one-wicket win, meant expectations were high for this match. It didn't live up to it, Australia won comfortably.

Image Id: ~/media/D05614BC84AB4E4697C8B04874EF5E64