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Cricket Australia (CA) has officially announced the date and venue for a special one-off Test match between Australia and England, set to commemorate the 150th anniversary of Test cricket. This historic match will take place in 2027, marking a century and a half since the very first Test match between the two nations.
The symbolic Test encounter between Australia and England
Cricket Australia has confirmed that Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will host the two teams for the exhibition Test. Additionally, it has been decided that the match will be a day-night encounter between the two arch-rivals, making it the first time the Australian men’s team will play a day-night Test at the MCG.
The match, which will commemorate the historic first-ever Test between Australia and England in Melbourne in 1877 will follow the success of the women’s Ashes day-night Test at the MCG earlier this summer. The announcement comes two years ahead of the match, which is officially scheduled to take place from March 11-15, 2027.
Additionally, it was also revealed that Cricket Australia holds the exclusive rights to use the MCG through the end of March each summer, despite the venue typically hosting Australian Rules football during that month. Recently, Cricket Australia extended its venue hire agreement with the MCG, securing access until the summer of 2030-31.
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A strategic move to increase attendance for the centenary Test
The transition to a day-night Test at the MCG is anticipated to boost attendance outside of the school holiday period. Additionally, the day-night format is expected to appeal to the UK television audience. Typically, Ashes Tests held on Australia’s east coast start just before midnight in England, but the later start time for this match will allow early-rising UK fans to catch the final two sessions.
It will be a busy summer for Australia in 2027, with the one-off Test set to come after that year’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy clash against India. Additionally, it will be an uphill battle for the Australians to match the ferocity and intensity of the white-ball format, as they look forward to defend their title in the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup later that year.
