On August 18th, Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed a host of Test venues for the Australian Summer until 2031.
‘WISDEN’ stated that the most significant news coming from the announcement was that a celebratory Test match between England (UK) and Australia would be held in Melbourne to mark the 150th anniversary of the first-ever Test. A similar one-off match had taken place in 1977 to commemorate the 100th anniversary.
Jolimont (Australia)-based Cricket Australia (CA), formerly known as the Australian Cricket Board (ACB), is the governing body for professional and amateur cricket in Australia. It was originally formed in 1905 as the ‘Australian Board of Control for International Cricket’. It is incorporated as an Australian Public Company limited by guarantee.
The first-ever Test match was played between Australia and England at the 100,024-capacity Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Melbourne (Australia) from March 15th-19th, 1877. Australia won by 45 runs. England won the second match at the same venue tying the series 1-1.
The 100th anniversary of the inaugural Test was also marked with a Test match between Australia and England at the MCG in 1977 with Australia again winning by 45 runs.
The Test Cricket is the longest format of the sport of cricket, considered the game’s most prestigious and traditional form. Often referred to as the “ultimate test” of a cricketer’s skill, endurance and temperament. It is a format of international cricket where two teams in white clothing, each representing a country, compete over a match that can last up to five days with six hours of play each day. It consists of four innings (two per team), maximum of 90 overs are scheduled to be bowled per day making it the sport with the longest playing time. A team wins the match by outscoring the opposition in the batting or bowl out in bowling, otherwise the match ends in a draw.
‘WISDEN’ further stated that but from a logistical standpoint, the more relevant news was that following discussions with the various State Governments, the CA had finalized the details for several home Test matches until the 2030-2031 seasons which are as follows:
- The Boxing Day (the cricket matches that are typically held on December 26th, a day after Christmas, in the Commonwealth nations Australia, South Africa and New Zealand) and New Year’s Tests will be held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the 48,000-capacity Sydney Cricket Ground, respectively, every year until 2030-2031 following traditions that have been in place for over 30 years;
- The ‘Christmas Test’ will take place at the 53,500-capacity Adelaide Oval in Adelaide every December until 2030. It will be decided in due course whether these matches will be day-night matches or day matches. The 2025-2026 Ashes Test at this venue is expected to be a day game at this point;
- The ‘West Test’ in Perth will serve as the start of the Australian Men’s Test Summer for the next three years. This means that the 2025-2026 Ashes will begin at a venue other than Brisbane for the first time since 1982-1983. On that occasion, the venue was in Perth as well;
- Brisbane has been guaranteed a Test match next Summer between the season opener in Perth and the Christmas Test in Adelaide. This is expected to be a day-night Ashes Test in 2025-2026; and
- Australia’s next home series is against India this November, the first five-match series between the sides since 1991-1992. The order of venues is the 61,266-capacity Perth Stadium (November 22nd), the Adelaide Oval (December 6th), the 42,000-capacity The Gabba in Brisbane (December 14th), the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne (December 26th), and the 48,000-capacity Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney (January 3rd, 2025).
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