Mackay’s first Test match and Darwin’s return to the fold for the first time since 2004 have been locked in with confirmation of the dates for Bangladesh‘s two-match series against Australia in August.

The opening Test will take place at Marrara Stadium in Darwin from August 13-17 with Great Barrier Reef Arena hosting the second from August 22-26. It will be the first Test series between the two countries since 2017 and only the second staged in Australia after they previously met in 2003. They had been due to face each other in Bangladesh in mid-2020 but the series was cancelled due to Covid.

Editor’s Picks

1 Related

The upcoming series is part of the current cycle of the World Test Championship (WTC) and will begin a hectic run in the format for Australia where they will play at least 20 matches between August 2024 and July 2025.

Both Darwin and Mackay were part of Australia’s white-ball Top End series against South Africa last year. Darwin has previously staged two Tests: Australia faced Bangladesh in 2003 and then Sri Lanka in 2004.

“It is no secret the international calendar is now crowded and we’re fortunate to have world class facilities available in August ensuring we have another window for Test cricket outside summer,” Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said.

The Mackay fixture will act as Queensland’s one Test for next season with the Gabba missing out during the main part of the summer when New Zealand visit for four matches which will be staged in Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney. Uncertainty over the Gabba’s future around the 2032 Olympics had hindered planning but it is expected to return to the schedule before being demolished after the Games.

After facing Bangladesh, Australia will head to South Africa for three Tests (along with associated white-ball cricket which will include ODIs in Zimbabwe) before returning for the home summer which includes a white-ball tour by England then the New Zealand Tests.

They then travel to India for a five-match series during January and February before hosting England at the MCG in March for the 150th anniversary Test. The next away Ashes then takes place in June and July 2027, with a potential WTC final before that should Australia qualify.

Australia will also visit Bangladesh this June for ODIs and T20Is.