Australia and England sideline India to celebrate 150th Anniversary of Test Cricket in MCG

Cricket Australia (CA) has confirmed the schedule for the men's international fixtures, ensuring the most iconic matches—marquee Boxing Day and New Year's Tests—will continue to be held at their traditional venues until at least 2031.

In a significant announcement, CA revealed that the Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests will remain at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) and Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG), respectively, following a tradition that has been part of Australian cricket since the early 1980s.

MCG to celebrate Test Cricket's 150th Anniversary in 2027

One of the highlights of this extended hosting rights agreement is the special celebration match in 2027 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to honor the 150th anniversary of Test cricket.

This celebratory match, expected to be an Australia-England fixture, will take place at the MCG, where the first-ever Test match was played between these archrivals in March 1877.

While details are still being finalized for the 150th Test anniversary match, the 2027 event is expected to be a grand affair, just like the Centenary Test held in 1977 at the same venue in Melbourne, which was a landmark moment in cricket history.

Well, the venue allocations for men’s Test matches over the next seven summers have also been confirmed by the CA. Adelaide Oval will continue as the venue for the 'Christmas Test' for the next seven summers, with flexibility for either day-night or traditional day formats.

On the other hand, the 2025-26 Ashes contest at Adelaide Oval is expected to be played as a red-ball match.

In a significant change in the tradition, Perth Stadium will host the opening match of the men’s Test season for the next three years, including the 2025-26 Ashes series opener against England.

This marks the first time in over four decades that an Ashes series will begin at a venue other than the Gabba, which has traditionally hosted the opening Test between Australia and England.

The Perth Test will be a historic occasion, as it will be the first Ashes Test at the 60,000-seat stadium.

Brisbane's Gabba will also remain a key venue in the Test fixtures, with a pre-Christmas Test scheduled for next summer, which will be a day-night Ashes Test following the series opener in Perth.

The Gabba remains a key venue for Australia's summer fixtures

Gabba will also host one men’s white-ball international fixture for the next two summers, while Perth Stadium will host similar fixtures for the next three summers.

CA planned this schedule according to Brisbane's preparations for the 2032 Olympic Games, ensuring the city continues to be the central part of Australia's sporting calendar.

Additionally, Adelaide Oval will continue to be a key venue, not only hosting the annual New Year's Eve Big Bash League (BBL) match but also ensuring a men’s and women’s limited-overs international match every year until 2030-31.

Meanwhile, CA is also in discussions with governments in Tasmania, the Northern Territory, and the Australian Capital Territory to explore opportunities for hosting international matches in these regions.

However, the new Macquarie Point stadium in Tasmania is not expected to be ready until at least 2029.

On the other hand, Adelaide Oval will continue its tradition of hosting the New Year's Eve Big Bash League (BBL) match until 2031. CA’s new venue schedule guarantees at least one men's white-ball international at both the Gabba and Perth Stadium for the next few 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.”