Australia hopes to play two Test matches at the MCG in the 2026/27 summer, reports The Age’s Daniel Brettig.
As things stand, the Melbourne venue will host their traditional Boxing Day Test against New Zealand in December as well as a one-off clash against England to celebrate the 150th year of Test cricket in March.
The first Test match in history was played at the MCG in 1877, while a Centenary Test was also played between Australia and England at the venue in 1977.
Brettig says that history has moved Australia and England to also play a match at the 'G in 2027.
“It's a product really of a couple of things,” Brettig explained on SEN Sportsday.
“In 2027 you've got the 150th anniversary of Test cricket.
“There's been some discussions behind the scenes for the last about nine months about the fact that cricket should recognise that, and that Australia should take a lead role given that the Centenary Test match in 1977 was between Australia and England at the MCG.
“The MCG was where of course, the first of all Test matches was played in 1877.
“The fact that that is going ahead and the fact that England have indicated their willingness to do that is one part of the puzzle.”
The series against New Zealand was initially meant to be a three-Test series, but Brettig says Cricket Australia has booked another Test against the Kiwis due to strong attendance the last time the nation toured Australian shores.
With another series set for India in January and February of 2027, Brettig says that’s why the summer will continue into March down under. “The other part of the puzzle is that if you look at the future tours program in that summer, 2026/27 Australia has a slightly odd calendar,” Brettig said.
“They've got New Zealand coming for a tour in December and January and then they're going to India for five Test matches in sort of mid-January to late February. So that affects the Australian season quite a lot.
“It's a question of what are you going to do with the time that you have left. Having carved out that time for the India tour.
“The 150 anniversary Test match, that's one thing, but also New Zealand … the series in 2019/20 was extremely well attended, including more than 80,000 people being there on Boxing Day.
“That was the biggest Boxing Day crowd ever for a match that wasn't an Ashes match, bigger than any game South Africa have had at the MCG, bigger than any game that India have had at the MCG.
“New Zealand kind of proved themselves as a good draw. That has moved Cricket Australia to talk to New Zealand about extending that tour from three Test matches to four, which means that all of the major venues apart from the Gabba, which will be out of action because of its rebuild ahead of the 2032 Olympics, will get a New Zealand test match.
“That's kind of how the picture comes together.”
The 150 anniversary Test could force the AFL to change its 2027 fixture with the competition usually hosting games at the MCG in mid-March.
Under the current agreement between the two sports, the AFL gains access to the MCG on March 18.