Cricket Australia reveals plans for one-off March Test against England, as uncertainty surrounds Brisbane’s future

Brisbane is set to miss out on a Test match in the 2026-27 summer for the first time in 50 years, while Cricket Australia has handed long-term security to Adelaide, Sydney and Melbourne.

Officials unveiled their plans for the next seven summers on Sunday, with Melbourne to retain the Boxing Day Test and Sydney the New Year’s fixture.

Adelaide will hold onto a mid-December Test in each of those summers, with a mixture of day and day-night matches in the South Australian capital.

But there is less certainty for other states.

Perth is locked in to host the first Test of the next three summers, with no desire from the WA Government for a longer agreement beyond that.

Negotiations will continue with other states, but the place of most uncertainty is Brisbane after 12 months of debate around stadiums in the city ahead of hosting the 2032 Olympics.

The Gabba is expected to go without a Test during the 2026-27 season, for the first summer since 1976-77.

That in part is due to fewer Test matches on offer that summer, with New Zealand to arrive for a four-Test tour and a 150-year anniversary Test to be played against England at the MCG in March.

The trade off could potentially be North Queensland hosting winter Tests against Bangladesh on one side of that summer.

But regardless, the Gabba also faces a period of uncertainty beyond that period.

“In Brisbane it is harder (to plan) because of the infrastructure. There is just uncertainty, so we’re not sure of the long-term solution,” CA chairman Mike Baird said.

“What we do know is the Gabba has a use-for-life that ends in 2030. We need a solution, and are working with the AFL as well on a long-term solution.

“We want a great venue in Brisbane, that can support Queensland Cricket and Australian cricket for years to come.”

Hobart’s new closed-roof stadium, set to open in 2029, could provide a further threat to future Gabba Tests.

Pressed on whether it was possible for Brisbane to fall out of CA’s annual cycle on a regular basis, Baird suggested it was unlikely.

“That’s hard to imagine, but we have to have the facilities and a ground that supports it,” he said.

“We want the fans to have the best experience as they come and see the world’s best players.”

In a letter to members on Sunday, Queensland Cricket chair Kirsten Pike and CEO Terry Svenson indicated no frustration with CA over the decision, and instead urged the state government to sort out Brisbane’s stadia strategy.

“Major stadiums in other states are now considered more commercially attractive and fan friendly to host cricket compared to the Gabba,” the pair said.

“It is deeply disappointing that the 2026-27 Gabba Test has become a casualty of the uncertainty around the infrastructure planning and development ahead of the 2032 Olympic preparations, specifically around the Gabba.

“The lack of detail about timings, promised improvements, and actual investment in the Gabba is driving uncertainty and is likely to continue to affect our operations until it is addressed.”

Adelaide locks in Tests after ‘contempt’ call

Adelaide’s assurances came following last summer’s war of words in which cricket administrators were accused of treating South Australian fans “with contempt”.

The South Australian Cricket Association (SACA) said the deal would give fans certainty around the timing of the annual men’s Test match at the venue, and also turn the Christmas Test into a “destination event for cricket lovers” across the country.

The agreement comes after the timing of last summer’s January Test was criticised by SACA, whose chair Will Rayner today said there had been “robust negotiations” with Cricket Australia to secure a pre-Christmas spot on the fixture.

“It’s a great reward for the South Australian cricketing public because this is such a well-supported Test. It made absolute sense for Cricket Australia to lock in this content here,” he said.

“We were really assertive.

“SACA made no secret of the fact we didn’t think the scheduling last year was appropriate.”

Test venue allocations

PERTH: First men’s Test each summer for 2024-25 until 2026-27. One men’s white-ball international

ADELAIDE: Pre-Christmas Test from 2025-26 until 2030-31, with mixture of day and day-night matches. One men’s white-ball and one women’s white-ball match each summer.

MELBOURNE: Boxing Day Test until 2030-31, 150-year Test v England in March 2027.

SYDNEY: New Year’s Test until 2030-31

BRISBANE: December or November Test in 2024-25 and 2025-26. Men’s white-ball match in both summers.

ABC/AAP