On January 19, 2021, a proud record was no more. When Rishabh Pant hit a boundary to the long-off fence off Josh Hazlewood, India had done the unthinkable for the first time in three decades. For the first time since 1988, Australia had lost a Test match at the Brisbane Cricket Ground or The Gabba. For three decades, this was Australian cricket’s fortress and they had won 25 and drawn seven Tests in that remarkable period. The hostile atmosphere, the true nature of the pitch that offered pace and bounce was what made the Gabbatoir one of the most intimidating grounds to play in. Ever since the West Indies team last defeated Australia by nine wickets in 1988 at the Gabba, Australia had gone on to establish a supreme level of confidence. However, on the final day of the fourth and final Border Gavaskar Trophy, that fortress was now breached and now there are very few cricket grounds where teams can enjoy unprecedented dominance.
When the Gabba fortress fell, an era had…