Darwin Poised for First Test Match in 22 Years as CA Eyes Northern Venues for Bangladesh Series

Test cricket could be returning to Darwin for the first time in over two decades, with Cricket Australia (CA) planning to host part of next year’s two-match Test series against Bangladesh in the country’s tropical north.

The series, part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship cycle, is scheduled for August 2026, with Darwin, along with Mackay, Cairns, and Townsville in northern Queensland, under consideration to host. If confirmed, it would mark the first winter Tests played in Australia since 2004.

Darwin last hosted Test cricket in 2003 and 2004, when Australia played Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at Marrara Oval. Since then, the city has largely dropped off the international calendar. However, the recent success of the white-ball series against South Africa—where both T20Is were sellouts—has reignited interest and positioned Darwin as the frontrunner for hosting a Test next year.

Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg confirmed the governing body’s desire to spread international cricket across a broader geographic range.

“Ideally, we will [split the series],” Greenberg said. “We want to make sure we continue to play cricket in lots of different locations, so the next generation of kids can see their stars.”

He praised Darwin’s climate and infrastructure, highlighting the consistent weather as a key advantage for hosting matches in the traditionally quiet winter period.

“The conditions up there are amazing when you take out the biggest variable we have in cricket, which is weather,” Greenberg added.

The Bangladesh series was initially scheduled for March 2027 but has been brought forward to accommodate the historic 150th-anniversary Ashes Test at the MCG. Afghanistan were originally set to tour Australia next July for a one-off Test and T20Is, but Cricket Australia has suspended bilateral cricketing ties with them.

In the push to take cricket to more regional venues, Mackay has emerged as another strong candidate. Its Great Barrier Reef Arena underwent a major upgrade in 2023 and regularly hosts Women’s Big Bash League (WBBL) games. The recent men’s ODI and T20I matches against South Africa were also well-received, with players impressed by the quality of pitches and facilities.

A potential Test in Mackay would be the first in the city’s history. Cairns, which previously hosted two Tests in the early 2000s and ODIs earlier this month, remains in contention. Townsville, while an option, has reportedly slipped behind due to lighting and infrastructure challenges, despite hosting ODIs in 2022.

If a Queensland venue is selected for one of the Bangladesh Tests, it would count as the state’s red-ball fixture for the 2026–27 summer, with the Gabba missing out due to scheduling adjustments caused by the touring New Zealand side.

Cricket Australia is also considering more winter internationals in future seasons as a means of extending the cricket calendar and easing congestion during the traditional summer window.

“We had such good support [during the white-ball games], we were sold out in almost every stadium we played in,” said Greenberg. “International cricket is now played 12 months of the year.”

As the push for regional expansion grows stronger, Darwin and its northern counterparts appear ready to usher in a new era of off-season Test cricket in Australia.