Aus, Eng to play day-night Test at MCG

Cricket Australia has confirmed that Australia and England will play a special one-off Test match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in March 2027 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of men’s Test cricket. The historic match will be a day-night Test played under lights with a pink ball.

The MCG was the venue for the first-ever Test match between Australia and England in 1877. A century later, in 1977, the two teams faced off again at the same ground to mark 100 years of Test cricket. In that special one-off Test, Australia, captained by Greg Chappell, won by 45 runs.

The upcoming Test between the two teams will take place from March 11-15, 2027, and will be the first-ever men’s pink-ball Test at the MCG. The venue had previously hosted a women’s Ashes pink-ball Test in 2024.

Cricket Australia decided to host the match as a day-night fixture to attract larger crowds. The decision to schedule it at night will also help boost global television ratings, making it more accessible to UK audiences. The timing of the match is seen as a way to maximize attendance, unlike the traditional Boxing Day Test, which is held during the holidays.

This Test will also be the first men’s Test match played in an Australian home summer since the 1978-79 series against Pakistan, which ended on March 29.

Todd Greenberg, the newly appointed chief executive of Cricket Australia, expressed excitement about the 150th Anniversary Test, calling it one of the major events in cricket. He highlighted that playing under lights would celebrate both the rich history of the game and the modern evolution of Test cricket.

“The 150th Anniversary Test at the MCG will be one of the great cricket events, and playing under lights will be a fantastic way to celebrate both our game’s rich heritage and Test cricket’s modern evolution,” Greenberg said.

“It will also help ensure more people are able to attend and watch what will be a fantastic occasion,” he added.

Greenberg also mentioned that the Centenary Test had produced iconic performances, and he believes the 150th Test will create its own lasting memories.