Cricket Australia (CA) has announced that the iconic Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests will continue at their historic venues, the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), respectively, until at least 2031.
This decision ensures that these premier matches will remain a staple of Australian cricket, preserving a tradition that has been in place since the early 1980s.
MCG to celebrate Test Cricket’s 150th Anniversary in 2027
A major highlight of the extended hosting agreement is the special match in 2027 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Test cricket. This celebratory fixture, anticipated to be between Australia and England, will be held at the MCG, where the first-ever Test match took place in March 1877.
While final details for the 150th anniversary match are still being worked out, the event is expected to be as grand as the Centenary Test of 1977 at the same venue, which was a significant milestone in cricket history.
Cricket Australia (CA) has also confirmed the venue allocations for men’s Test matches over the next seven summers. Adelaide Oval will continue to host the ‘Christmas Test’ for the next seven years, with options for both day-night and traditional day formats. The 2025-26 Ashes series at Adelaide Oval is likely to be a red-ball match.
In a notable change, Perth Stadium will host the opening Test of the men’s season for the next three years, including the 2025-26 Ashes series opener against England. This will be the first time in over forty years that an Ashes series begins at a venue other than the Gabba, which has traditionally been the opener.
The Perth Test will be a historic event, marking the first Ashes Test at the 60,000-seat stadium. Meanwhile, Brisbane’s Gabba will continue to be a key venue, with a pre-Christmas Test scheduled for next summer, featuring a day-night Ashes match following the series opener in Perth.
The Gabba remains a key venue for Australia’s summer fixtures
The Gabba will host one men’s white-ball international fixture each of the next two summers, while Perth Stadium will feature similar matches for the next three summers. This scheduling aligns with Brisbane’s preparations for the 2032 Olympic Games, ensuring the city remains a central hub in Australia’s sporting calendar.
Adelaide Oval will also continue to play a significant role, hosting the annual New Year’s Eve Big Bash League (BBL) match and featuring at least one men’s and one women’s limited-overs international match each year until the 2030-31 season.
Cricket Australia (CA) is exploring the possibility of hosting international matches in Tasmania, the Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory. However, the new Macquarie Point stadium in Tasmania is not expected to be ready before 2029.
In addition, Adelaide Oval will maintain its tradition of the New Year’s Eve BBL match until 2031. CA’s updated schedule ensures that both the Gabba and Perth Stadium will host at least one men’s white-ball international fixture in the coming summers.
This schedule ensures the best cricket across the country: CA
CA has assured that similar discussions and decisions regarding the women’s international schedule will follow after the conclusion of the current ICC Future Tours Program in April. The MCG is already set to host the 90th anniversary Women’s Ashes Test early next year to promote women’s cricket.
CA CEO Nick Hockley stated, “We are delighted to confirm long-term hosting rights that provide certainty around the locations of some fantastic cricket over the next seven years. We are confident this schedule ensures the best cricket will be played in the best venues at the right times across the country, including a fantastic mix of iconic Test matches.”
“The 150th anniversary Test match at the MCG in March 2027 will be a wonderful celebration of the pinnacle format of the game at one of the world’s great sporting arenas, and we can’t wait to host England on that occasion.”
