Australia, England to play historic day-night test

Melbourne

Australia and England will face off in a historic day-night Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) from March 11-15, 2027, to mark the 150th anniversary of Test cricket, Cricket Australia (CA) announced Tuesday.

The match will be the first time Australia’s men play a Test under lights at the MCG, the venue of the first-ever Test match in 1877 and the Centenary Test in 1977. Remarkably, Australia won both by 45 runs.

CA emphasized that the day-night format would enable more fans to attend, as the match falls outside school holidays. “Playing under lights will be a fantastic way to celebrate our game’s rich heritage and Test cricket’s evolution,” said CA chief executive Todd Greenberg.

He recalled the Centenary Test’s iconic moments, including David Hookes’ five consecutive boundaries off Tony Greig and Derek Randall’s defiant century. “The 150th Test will create its own lifelong memories,” Greenberg added.

The landmark match follows Australia’s five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in India. After the MCG Test, Australia will tour England for the Ashes and potentially a World Test Championship final before concluding the year with the World Cup in South Africa.

“With today’s complex international schedule, it takes significant planning and support to conduct such an event,” said Peter Roach, CA’s Head of Cricket Operations. “Like the 1977 Centenary Test, this match will be unforgettable for those who attend.”

CA expressed gratitude to the Victorian Government and Melbourne Cricket Club for their support in hosting the momentous occasion.