A very long summer of cricket

For many generations, Test cricket in Australia has been linked with summer. The distinctive sound of leather on willow and enjoying days of cricket under the hot December or January sun are part of Australia’s sporting tradition. However, tomorrow signals a notable change. The 2026-27 Australian Test season will kick off in Darwin as much of the country is still emerging from winter. This marks the first Australian home Test season to begin in August since 2004, with Bangladesh scheduled for a two-Test series in northern Australia.

The first Test will take place at Marrara Stadium in Darwin from August 13-17. Afterwards, the teams will travel to Mackay for a historic second Test, marking the city’s first at this level. Since Darwin hasn’t hosted a Test match in 22 years, this event holds special importance for cricket fans in the Top End.

What makes this even more impressive is that it marks the start of nearly eleven months of Test cricket for Australia. After the Bangladesh series, Australia will host New Zealand in a four-Test summer series, followed by welcoming England for the 150th Anniversary Test at the MCG in March. For cricket fans like me, it’s a dream come true. Test cricket is no longer limited to just a few summer months. Instead, the Australian team is set to spend almost a year on this journey, keeping the sport’s most prestigious format in the spotlight almost nonstop.