Rain disrupts Gabba preparations

Next week's first Test at Brisbane could be played on a greentop, according to the Gabba's groundsman, Kevin Mitchell, after a torrential downpour interrupted pitch preparations on Wednesday.

Groundsmen rushed to cover the centre wicket as the clouds rolled in and, with eight days to go until the start of the Ashes, Mitchell warned that more bad weather would have a big impact on the wicket.

"It always is a factor in south-east Queensland when you are preparing wickets," he told ABC Sport. "Hopefully we'll get them out of the way before the weekend when most of the intense preparation comes into play."