Date: October 28-31, 2025
Venue: Brisbane Cricket Ground (The Gabba), Woolloongabba, Brisbane
Match Type: 4-day match (Sheffield Shield 2025-26, Match 7)
Start Time: 5:00 AM local time
Toss: Not yet completed
Umpires: Michael Graham-Smith, Stephen Dionysius
Match Referee: Kepler Wessels
Current Form and Tournament Standing
Queensland enter this match in strong form, sitting second on the Sheffield Shield table. They’re coming off a seven-wicket victory over South Australia in their previous game. Their season started with a draw against Tasmania before bouncing back with that impressive win.
New South Wales, meanwhile, are in fourth position. They have one win and one defeat from their two games so far this season. Their last outing saw them lose to Victoria, so they’ll be eager to get back to winning ways.
Both teams will be playing their third match of the season, making this an important contest as the tournament progresses.
Expected Playing XIs
Note: Official playing XIs have not been confirmed yet. The lineups below are based on probable selections.
Queensland (Likely XI)
Source: SportsCafe preview, October 26, 2025
Queensland are expected to field: Usman Khawaja, Angus Lovell, Marnus Labuschagne (C), Jack Clayton, Lachlan Hearne, Jimmy Peirson (WK), Jack Wildermuth, Michael Neser, Jack Sinfield, Tom Straker, and Mitchell Swepson.
New South Wales (Likely XI)
Source: SportsCafe preview, October 26, 2025
New South Wales probable lineup includes: Sam Konstas, Blake Nikitaras, Kurtis Patterson, Matthew Giles (WK), Ryan Hadley, Oliver Davies, Jack Edwards (C), William Salzmann, Charlie Stobo, Nathan Lyon, and Liam Hatcher.
Both teams are expected to stick with similar squads from their recent matches, with no major changes anticipated.
Players to Watch
| Player | Team | Role | Why Watch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Usman Khawaja | Queensland | Batter | Test star brings experience and consistency |
| Marnus Labuschagne | Queensland | Batter/Captain | In excellent form, leads from the front |
| Mitchell Swepson | Queensland | Bowler | Recently took career-best figures vs South Australia |
| Nathan Lyon | New South Wales | Bowler | Legendary spinner crucial for NSW’s chances |
| Sam Konstas | New South Wales | Batter | Young talent looking to make his mark |
| Jack Edwards | New South Wales | Captain/Allrounder | Key player with bat and in leadership |
Pitch and Weather Report
The Gabba Pitch
The Gabba surface generally provides favorable conditions for fast bowlers, with the pitch offering genuine pace and extra bounce throughout the match. Early in the match, the pitch typically has grass coverage and offers pace, bounce, and lateral movement to pacers.
As the match progresses, the pitch tends to flatten out, making batting easier. The true bounce means batsmen who get set can score runs freely. Generally, the pitch is good to bat on, but bowlers who hit the seam can get a response with the new ball.
Weather Forecast
The weather forecast for Brisbane shows temperatures between 18-25°C during the match dates (October 28-31). October in Brisbane typically sees around 10 days with some rain, with daytime temperatures reaching 26°C and falling to 15°C at night.
The pleasant spring conditions should be good for cricket, though some interruptions from rain are possible.
What to Expect
This promises to be an exciting contest between two quality sides. Queensland will be confident playing at their home ground, especially with experienced Test players like Khawaja and Labuschagne leading the way. Their recent win over South Australia gives them momentum.
New South Wales will look to bounce back from their loss to Victoria. Nathan Lyon’s experience will be crucial, particularly as the pitch wears. The young batting lineup, including Konstas and Davies, will need to show maturity against Queensland’s strong bowling attack.
The Gabba’s pace and bounce should make for entertaining cricket. Fast bowlers from both sides will be key, especially early in each innings. If the weather holds up, we should see a good contest between bat and ball.
Prediction: Queensland have home advantage and are in better form. Playing at The Gabba, where they know the conditions well, gives them the edge. Queensland are slight favorites to extend their winning streak.
Where to Watch
The match will be streamed live on the FanCode app and website for fans in India. Entry is free for spectators at The Gabba.