Darwin is on track to host its first Test in 22 years, with Cricket Australia (CA) considering splitting next yearโs Bangladesh tour between the Northern Territory and North Queensland.
Players reportedly enjoyed the return of international cricket to Darwin earlier this month, when the city staged white-ball matches against South Africa. Now, CA is preparing for more winter internationals, with Australia set to host Bangladesh in a two-Test series forming part of the World Test Championship (WTC) in the Top End.
Darwin Emerges as Leading Candidate
Mackay, Cairns, Townsville, and Darwin are all under consideration, but Darwin is currently the frontrunner. Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg highlighted the importance of spreading the game to different parts of the country.
โ๐พ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐,โ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ .โ๐พ๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐,โ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ .
He added that local authorities are eager to host more matches and that weather conditions in Darwin are favorable compared to other regions.
Why the Schedule Changed
The Bangladesh Tests were initially penciled in for March 2027. However, the 150th-anniversary Ashes Test at the MCG forced a reshuffle, moving the Bangladesh series forward. Meanwhile, Afghanistanโs scheduled one-off Test and three T20Is against Australia were suspended after CA halted bilateral cricket ties with them.
Darwin last staged Test matches in 2003 and 2004, against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka respectively, before fading from the international calendar. More recently, the city hosted Australia A matches and the recent T20Is against South Africa at TIO Stadium.
Regional Venues in Consideration
Mackay has strengthened its case with the upgraded Great Barrier Reef Arena, which successfully staged WBBL matches and menโs internationals this year. Cairns, which hosted two Tests in the early 2000s and last weekโs ODIs, remains an option, while Townsvilleโs chances have dipped due to lighting concerns.
A Test match in Queenslandโwhether in Mackay, Cairns, or Townsvilleโwould also count as the stateโs allocation for the 2026-27 summer, since the Gabba will not host a red-ball fixture against New Zealand.
More Winter Cricket on the Horizon
Cricket Australia sees value in expanding winter internationals in the Top End, extending the cricket calendar and reducing pressure on the traditional summer window.
โ๐พ๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐-๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐, ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐,โ ๐ฎ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐ .
With Australiaโs womenโs team already set to play a Test in March, CA believes year-round international cricket is becoming the new normal.
Also Read: Kings Rise to Top as Seifert, Charles, and Shamsi Shine Against Patriots
