In a latest update, it is being revealed that Australia and England will play one-off Test in 2027 to celebrate 150 years of Test cricket at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne. It is to be noted that Test cricket will celebrate its 150th anniversary in 2027 after the first game was played in March 1877.
Cricket Australia on Sunday, August 18 announced that the MCG will host this one-off Test on the Sesquicentenary Test anniversary. It is to be noted that the 100th anniversary was also celebrated at the same venue in 1977 with the match being played between March 12 to 17 in Melbourne. All living cricketers who had represented Australia and England in an Ashes were witness to the 1977 Centenary Test, which saw Australia lift the title by 45 runs.
“We are enormously grateful for the strong support of state and territory governments and venue operators who will help us to deliver brilliant experiences across the country and maximize economic impact from these major events,” CA CEO Nick Hockley was quoted as saying by cricket.com.au.
“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,” he further added.
Cricket Australia confirms match allocations for upcoming season
Cricket Australia during the announcement of the Sesquicentenary Test, also confirmed match allocations for the upcoming seasons. While the Boxing Day Test (Melbourne) and New Year’s Test (Sydney) have been confirmed in the calendar till 2030-31, Adelaide too have secured a seven-year commitment for a pre-Christmas Test.
Here’s the list of Cricket Australia’s match allocations
New South Wales
Seven seasons (2024/25 to 2030/31)
Confirmed matches: Men’s New Year’s Test each summer
Queensland
Two seasons (2024/25 & 2025/26)
Confirmed matches: 1 Men’s Test to be played prior to 30 December each summer and 1 Men’s ODI/T20I each summer
South Australia
Seven seasons (2024/25 to 2030/31)
Confirmed matches: Men’s Day/Night Test vs India (2024/25), Men’s Christmas Test (2025/26 to 2030/31), 1 Men’s ODI/T20I each summer, 1 Women’s T20/ODI each summer and BBL match on New Year’s Eve each summer
Victoria
Seven seasons (2024/25 to 2030/31)
Confirmed matches: Men’s Boxing Day Test each summer, Women’s 90th Anniversary Day/Night Test vs England in 2024/25 and Men’s 150th Anniversary Test vs England in 2026/27
Western Australia
Three seasons (2024/25 to 2026/27)
Confirmed matches: First Men’s Test each summer and 1 Men’s ODI/T20I each summer