Cricket Australia has confirmed that Australia and England will play a particular one-off Check match on the Melbourne Cricket Floor (MCG) in March 2027 to rejoice the one hundred and fiftieth anniversary of males’s Check cricket. The historic match will likely be a day-night Check performed below lights with a pink ball.
The MCG was the venue for the first-ever Check match between Australia and England in 1877. A century later, in 1977, the 2 groups confronted off once more on the similar floor to mark 100 years of Check cricket. In that particular one-off Check, Australia, captained by Greg Chappell, received by 45 runs.
The upcoming Check between the 2 groups will happen from March 11-15, 2027, and would be the first-ever males’s pink-ball Check on the MCG. The venue had beforehand hosted a ladies’s Ashes pink-ball Check in 2024.
Cricket Australia determined to host the match as a day-night fixture to draw bigger crowds. The choice to schedule it at evening may also assist increase world tv rankings, making it extra accessible to UK audiences. The timing of the match is seen as a option to maximize attendance, not like the normal Boxing Day Check, which is held through the holidays.
This Check may also be the primary males’s Check match performed in an Australian house summer season because the 1978-79 collection towards Pakistan, which ended on March 29.
Todd Greenberg, the newly appointed chief govt of Cricket Australia, expressed pleasure concerning the one hundred and fiftieth Anniversary Check, calling it one of many main occasions in cricket. He highlighted that taking part in below lights would rejoice each the wealthy historical past of the sport and the trendy evolution of Check cricket.
“The one hundred and fiftieth Anniversary Check on the MCG will likely be one of many nice cricket occasions, and taking part in below lights will likely be a incredible option to rejoice each our recreation’s wealthy heritage and Check cricket’s fashionable evolution,” Greenberg mentioned.
“It should additionally assist guarantee extra individuals are in a position to attend and watch what will likely be a incredible event,” he added.
Greenberg additionally talked about that the Centenary Check had produced iconic performances, and he believes the one hundred and fiftieth Check will create its personal lasting reminiscences.