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Some British Pop Star Ruined One Of The World's Best Cricket Pitches

Yeah, okay, so Adele and she isn’t just anyone but what has she done to the GABBA?

The pitch described by Shane Warne as the best in the world has been seriously damaged following two shows by British pop star, Adele, last weekend.

Four of seven "wicket blocks" at Brisbane's Gabba cricket ground will need to be re-laid after 120 000 people attended the two shows and trampled the crap out of the turf. The ramifications for future cricket and football fixtures at the Gabba are significant. Queensland Cricket are already calling for the AFL women's grand final along with the first two rounds of the AFL season to be moved from the Gabba to let the pitch recover.

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Cricket pitches are groomed and manicured for years at a cost of hundreds of thousands of dollars in order to retain a specific character. The WACA is green, quick and bouncy, the SCG is dry and favours spinners, the GABBA is a middle of the road batting pitch with plenty of bounce and carry.

This is not a small deal for cricket fans. In the case of the WACA, which has also suffered serious damage in the past, it took almost a decade to return to its former glory.

The responsibility to look after the ground does not, however, fall solely on the shoulders of Adele but rather her promoters and the Gabba administration itself.

Even before it was revealed the pitch had been damaged, Adele was already at logger heads with the Brisbane City Council regarding the logistics of playing shows in the venue. Brisbane Lord Mayor Graham Quirk and his deputy Adrian Schrinner were opposed to the event being held at the Gabba due to the challenge of getting 60 000 people to the venue by bus for each concert

"I know there was a bit of controversy about me playing the Gabba," Adele said during one of the shows.

"I think they should shut up with their bloody moaning, f*cking hell. Shut up! I come from f*king London. I'm happy to be in Brisbane."