Sesquicentenary of test cricket to be first men’s D/N test at the MCG - March 2027

[Jim Prideaux]

Australia and England set for day-night Test at MCG for 150th Ashes anniversary

Two years out from the 150th anniversary Ashes Test at the MCG, Cricket Australia has confirmed it will be a pink-ball match

www.theguardian.com

Just announced as far as I can see. Personally I don’t hate the D/N idea for this one off match.

What does the board think?

 

[cats_09]

The worse thing about it is that it likely means the AFL continuing with this Round Zero bullshit for another 2 years as the MCG won't be available for football until the last weekend in March


Otherwise, love the idea and will aim to get tickets to a few days

 

[Gough]

Sesquicentenary is such a cumbersome and angular word.

 

[Cleavy]

didn't we know this already though, or was that just the speculation?

 

[Walshawk]

The worse thing about it is that it likely means the AFL continuing with this Round Zero bullshit for another 2 years as the MCG won't be available for football until the last weekend in March


Otherwise, love the idea and will aim to get tickets to a few days

How will Channel 7 cover both? Which one goes on 7mate?

 

[worbod]

I just hope Australia ends up winning by 45 runs again.

 

[cats_09]

How will Channel 7 cover both? Which one goes on 7mate?

Football to 7Mate

But when they want to show Home & Away, plus Idol - football to 7Two, and the cricket to Mate

 

[big_e]

Fun fact: Australia did not play a test match in 1927.

 

[jannissary]

i'm a fan, makes it a bit easier to attend (especially if it happens during a school/work week

 

[cricketnut14]

2027 looks to be a massive year.

it'll be interesting to see how many of the aging aussies will be targeting some of these series and want to be part if it.

an india tour
150th anniversary test
wtc final
ashes in england
odi world cup

 

[Jim Prideaux]

didn't we know this already though, or was that just the speculation?

Not sure, it appears they only confirmed it yesterday.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

The worse thing about it is that it likely means the AFL continuing with this Round Zero bullshit for another 2 years as the MCG won't be available for football until the last weekend in March


Otherwise, love the idea and will aim to get tickets to a few days

You’d imagine so regarding opening round. Technically I believe cricket has the rights to the MCG until the end of March, it just rarely needs it

 

[Jim Prideaux]

Sesquicentenary is such a cumbersome and angular word.

It’s one of those words I’m not sure I’ve ever pronounced correctly.

 

[Westend]

Who are we playing 26/27 summer ?

 

[010203]

Who are we playing 26/27 summer ?

New Zealand for 4 Tests and I think a Test against Bangladesh in Australia for the first time since 2003.

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

150 years of tradition recognised by abandoning tradition.

 

[cricketnut14]

Who are we playing 26/27 summer ?

it'll be a quirky and hectic kinda summer.

bangladesh were supposed to play 2 tests when we are now playing england, and looks like it'll be moved to where we were to host afghanistan - with the afghanistan test scrapped.

our 7 test home summer will start late august and run thru to march - with 2 overseas tours sandwiched in.

2 v Bangladesh (H) - top end ?
3 v South Africa (A)
4 v New Zealand (H) - perth, adelaide, melbourne, sydney
5 v India (A)
1 v England (H) - melbourne

 

[Gough]

it'll be a quirky and hectic kinda summer.

bangladesh were supposed to play 2 tests when we are now playing england, and looks like it'll be moved to where we were to host afghanistan - with the afghanistan test scrapped.

our 7 test home summer will start late august and run thru to march - with 2 overseas tours sandwiched in.

2 v Bangladesh (H) - top end ?
3 v South Africa (A)
4 v New Zealand (H) - perth, adelaide, melbourne, sydney
5 v India (A)
1 v England (H) - melbourne

Leading into an away Ashes then an ODI World Cup in Africa in Oct/Nov 2027, that's a shit load of cricket.

 

[cricketnut14]

Leading into an away Ashes then an ODI World Cup in Africa in Oct/Nov 2027, that's a shit load of cricket.

no doubt we'll see a few retirements, during this period.

 

[Gough]

It’s one of those words I’m not sure I’ve ever pronounced correctly.

It's probably the first time I've heard it used in a sentence since 1986.

 

[jannissary]

very busy summer indeed. i think looking through 2025/2026, there should be a focus on bringing in youth more often to play in the test - even if it's my least favourite current player. by the end of 2026/2027 there will be a lack of depth so big we'll be in big trouble in terms of quality players.

https://www.espncricinfo.com/cricketers/team/australia-2/contracted-players based on this list, i'd say that usman, starc, hazlewood, lyon will retire (soon), and boland will follow up shortly, too.

our batting depth is already dire, and we saw during the CT that there's little ready to replace them, konstas hasn't exactly torn the world apart post test debut, connolly needs more time to mature, the other young players who're getting a look (fraser-mcgurk lol) do we look for old(er) statesmen ala a kurtis patterson, or just keep trial/erroring with the youth.

 

[Jim Prideaux]

It's probably the first time I've heard it used in a sentence since 1986.

They would’ve been sure to pronounce it correctly there.

 

[010203]

A Test match to celebrate the 150th anniversary of cricket's most traditional format and rivalry should be a traditional red ball Test.

 

[largebus]

A Test match to celebrate the 150th anniversary of cricket's most traditional format and rivalry should be a traditional red ball Test.

And be played on an uncovered pitch, no helmets and unlimited ball tampering.

 

[big_e]

And be played on an uncovered pitch, no helmets and unlimited ball tampering.

Yep.

The first test match was part of privately organised business venture, missing the best players from both sides, was timeless, had a rest day, four balls in an over, and wasn't declared the first test until decades later.

For it to be a day-night, pink ball, part of the ICC World Test Championship,. etc would be a worthy celebration of how cricket has changed over the years but still remains the game we love.