Australia will host England in a celebratory match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in 2027 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the first Test match between the two countries in 1877. This stand-alone match will mark a century and a half of Test cricket, with Australia winning both the first 1877 match and the Centenary Test of 1977.
Cricket Australia (CA) has also secured the hosting rights for men’s international matches, such as Tests, ODIs, and T20Is, from 2024-25 to 2030-31. These initiatives are part of strategic collaborations with state governments aimed at expanding cricket’s reach across the country and increasing fan participation.
CA CEO Nick Hockley was enthusiastic about the 150th-anniversary event, describing it as a spectacular celebration of the apex format of the game at one of the world’s great sports arenas. He also confirmed the continuation of the traditional Boxing Day Test at the MCG and the New Year’s Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
The Adelaide Oval will host the ‘Christmas Test’ beginning in 2025/26, with a mix of Day-Night and Day Tests, while Perth will hold the first men’s Test of the summer until 2026-27.
