Australia and England set to play a one-off Test in 2027 at the iconic MCG to commemorate Test cricket's 150th anniversary
Australia and England will be part of a historic one-off fixture in March 2027 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) to mark Test cricket's 150th anniversary. The same two nations had played the first-ever contest at the same venue back in 1877, and have since developed the most famous rivalry in the game.
The two sides had even faced each other in a similar one-off clash in 1977 in Melbourne to mark the 100th anniversary. Led by Greg Chappell, Australia had won that particular encounter by 45 runs.
It is yet to be determined whether the one-off clash in 2027 will have any bearing on the Ashes urn. The centenary clash in 1977 was treated as a proper one-off clash, an exhibition encounter, meaning that it would not go down in history books as part of the Ashes, nor would the urn switch hands if such a result emerges.
"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," Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said.
Cricket Australia released the hosting rights schedule for the next seven years ahead of their upcoming home summer. The planned list has allotted the iconic Boxing Day Test and the New Year's Test to the Melbourne Cricket Ground and the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) to maintain the tradition.
One of the major changes includes Perth being handed the honors to kick-start the Australian summer for the next three years. The Optus Stadium was already assigned to host the opening clash of the upcoming Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and now it will play host to the Ashes opener in 2025-26. The Gabba in Brisbane has usually hosted the first Ashes Test for the last four decades.
We are delighted to confirm long-term hosting rights which provide certainty around the locations of some fantastic cricket over the next seven years," Hockley added.
"We are confident this schedule ensures the best cricket will be played in the best venues at the right times across the country, including a fantastic mix of iconic Test matches, new blockbusters such as the West Test and Christmas Test, and exciting day-night fixtures," he continued
The MCG has already been assigned to host the 90th-anniversary women's Ashes Test from January 30 to February 2 in 2025.
England last won a Test on Australian soil in 2010
England have had a tough time trying to be competitive in Australia after failing to secure a single win over their last three Ashes tours. Their last triumph Down Under came in the 2010 series, where they managed to win the five-match series by a 3-1 margin.
They have suffered 4-0 losses in their last two trips to Australia and managed to secure a 2-2 draw at home in 2023.