- The biggest total attendance for a Gabba Test since the 2006-07 Ashes
- Highest-rating Day-Night Test across Kayo Sports, Foxtel, Seven and 7plus Sport
- Interim average audience of 2.16m tuned in to the second session on final day
The NRMA Insurance Gabba Test attracted huge audiences with the Day-Night schedule allowing more people to experience the enthralling action as Australia took a 2-0 lead in the Ashes series.
Australia recorded a convincing eight-wicket victory headlined by Mitchell Starc’s eight wickets and first innings top score of 77, Michael Neser’s bag of 5-42 which ended England’s second innings resistance and Jake Weatherald’s maiden Test half-century (72).
The total attendance of 137,152 for the four days was the second highest for any Test at the Gabba behind only the 164,727 who attended the corresponding match in 2006-07, which went five days.
This year’s attendance also exceeded last year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy Test Match at the Gabba (91,195) as well as those for the 2010-11 (132,606) and 2017-18 (130,665) Ashes Tests which all went into a fifth day.
The Brisbane Test captivated audiences across all four days of play, with five sessions averaging over 1.9m viewers, which are the five highest rated sessions for a Day-Night Test across Kayo Sports, Foxtel, Seven and 7plus Sport.
Kayo Sports delivered 329 million minutes streamed on its platform while Foxtel recorded their highest ever audience on the final session of Day 4 across Kayo Sports and Foxtel.
Seven reported more than eight million people tuned in to Seven and 7plus Sport over the four days including a record Test audience on 7plus Sport for session two on Day 4.
Cricket Australia’s digital channels continue to see extraordinary engagement, with 1.25 million people from within Australia visiting cricket.com.au and the Cricket Australia Live app across the Brisbane Test – up 56% on the day-night Test in Adelaide last year (which was a three-day Test).
The vast global reach of the series was also evident with 145 million video views across Cricket Australia’s social media channels during the Test match, with views from Australian users up 53% compared to last year’s day-night Test against India.
Todd Greenberg, Cricket Australia CEO said ” We were confident staging the second NRMA Insurance Ashes Test under lights at the Gabba would allow more people to attend and watch the match at this time of year and we’re delighted by the viewing figures and attendance numbers.
“TV and streaming audiences averaged about two million viewers, we had a packed stadium and millions more cricket fans engaged with CA’s outstanding digital content as the Australian team again performed brilliantly.
“It was particularly exciting to see Jake Weatherald score his maiden Test half-century and Michael Neser return to make a big impact.
“This vindicated the faith of the selectors and demonstrates the depth of talent that continues to flow from our states and territories, community clubs and pathway systems.
“It will be intriguing to see if England can mount a fightback in the third Test during what will be another fantastic occasion at Adelaide Oval.”
Source – Cricket Australia, December 8, 2025.
