GOLD Coast’s Metricon Stadium will host a major international match for the first time but the Gabba has been downgraded as a Test venue in cricket’s new summer schedule.

Metricon will host a T20 game between Australia and South Africa in November in a decision which will be formally announced at a press conference later today.

The Gabba Test however has been shunted to the Australia Day weekend in January when Sri Lanka will play a day-night fixture in the first Test of a two-Test series featuring another game in Canberra.

Brisbane has missed out on one of the four Tests against India earlier in the summer which have gone to Adelaide, Perth, Sydney and Melbourne.

Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said earlier in the summer the Gabba’s place in the national pecking order had fallen and this schedule is proof of that.

Queensland officials are proud of Australia’s 30-year unbeaten record at the Gabba but the ground has been outstripped in the bidding process by more modern venues.

More to come ...