Australia and England to celebrate 150th Test anniversary with special match at MCG in 2027
Australia and England will mark 150 years of Test cricket with a special one-off Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in March 2027. This historic event will celebrate the first-ever Test match played between the two teams at the same venue back in 1877. In 1977, Australia also celebrated 100 years of Test cricket with a centenary Test, which they won.
Key Announcements for Australian Cricket:
- Boxing Day and New Year’s Tests Secured Until 2030-31:
- The iconic Boxing Day Test at the MCG and the New Year’s Test at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) will continue at their traditional venues through to the 2030-31 season.
- Perth to Host Summer’s Opening Test:
- For the next three years, Perth has been awarded the rights to host the opening Test of the Australian summer. This marks a significant change as the Ashes will begin at a venue other than Brisbane’s Gabba for the first time in over 40 years.
- Adelaide Oval’s Christmas Test:
- Adelaide Oval will host the Christmas Test for the next seven years, with the option of either day or day-night formats. The upcoming Ashes Test at Adelaide in the 2025-26 season is scheduled as a day game, though the venue has a history of hosting pink-ball Tests.
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley expressed his excitement about the upcoming schedule, stating that it guarantees top-quality cricket in iconic venues across the country. The 150th anniversary Test at the MCG is expected to be a highlight, bringing together cricket fans from around the world to celebrate the pinnacle of the sport in one of the world’s most famous stadiums.