Gabba makes a splash with fan activities

Two key ingredients of every Australian summer – cricket and relaxing by the pool – will come together in Brisbane this summer for the day-night Test at the Gabba.

To mark 50 days until the start of the Commonwealth Bank Day-Night Test against Pakistan on December 15, Cricket Australia has revealed plans for a pool and multi-tiered deck to be installed inside the Gabba itself, allowing fans to escape the summer heat and relax by the pool without missing any of the action.

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Fans will also be able to enjoy the atmosphere of a beach-themed area at "Sandy Point" in the grounds of the East Brisbane State School adjacent to the Gabba. Sandy Point offers premium food and drink options as well as plenty of seating and a big screen to watch all the action, providing a unique way to start or end a day at the cricket, or to just simply get a different perspective on the action out in the middle.

CA is hoping the Pool Deck and Sandy Point area will add to the interest around the first-ever day-night Test in Brisbane, a contest that will mark the 85th anniversary of Test cricket at the Gabba.

"Both the Pool Deck and Sandy Point will bring a real Queensland summer feel to the Test," said Ben Amarfio, Executive General Manager, Media, Communications, and Marketing.

"And we hope that with the match being played during the school holidays and tickets available for a very affordable price, fans from around the state and around the country will get along to the match to enjoy these initiatives as well as world-class day-night Test action."

Olympic swimming champion Stephanie Rice launched the Pool Deck and Sandy Point at an event at Brisbane's South Bank today.

On the field, Australia will be hoping to build on their impressive record at The Gabba, where they have not lost a Test match since 1988.

Cricket Australia announced earlier this year a significant reduction in ticket prices for the summer, with more than three-quarters of all seats offered at lower prices than last year.

Entry-level tickets for all Tests and ODIs will cost no more than $30 for adults, $10 for children and $65 for families – cheaper still in Hobart - and more than 50 per cent of all tickets will be available for $50 or less.

For more information and to purchase tickets, click here.

From 1 November, fans can give themselves a chance to get on the Pool Deck at the Gabba by purchasing a ticket to the Commonwealth Bank Brisbane Test through Ticketmaster online and using the offer code word “Pool” to go into the draw for a chance to be upgraded. For fans who have already purchased tickets to the Test, they simply need to head to the match in their best pool attire and they could be randomly selected from the crowd for an upgrade to the Pool Deck.