Australia’s 150th Anniversary Test to Cap Historic Eight-Month Home Summer

BRISBANE, Australia — Australia’s next international cricket campaign will stretch across eight months, open in the tropical Top End and close under lights at the Melbourne Cricket Ground with a 150th anniversary Test against England in March 2027.

Cricket Australia released the 27-match home itinerary on Monday, confirming the men’s national team will visit 14 venues between Aug. 13 and the landmark England fixture scheduled for Mar. 11-15.

The season begins with a two-Test series against Bangladesh, to be played in Darwin and Mackay, before Australia switches to white-ball mode for three one-day internationals and five Twenty20s against England.

A three-Test tour of South Africa in October follows, marking the first meeting between the sides since the Proteas defeated Australia in last June’s World Test Championship final at Lord’s and the first Australian visit to the republic since the 2018 ball-tampering controversy.

On returning home, Australia will meet trans-Tasman rival New Zealand in a rapid-fire four-Test series held across four weeks starting Dec. 9. A tour of India is pencilled in for early 2027 before attention turns to the MCG’s commemorative clash with England.

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said the extended home programme, new regional venue allocations and marquee anniversary match would showcase both tradition and growth.

“The 150th anniversary Test match will be a wonderful conclusion to the summer with the cricket world coming to the MCG to celebrate the game’s historic rivalry,” Greenberg noted.

England enters the contest following a post-Ashes performance review after losing the most recent series in Australia 4-1 in January.