QLD, WA big winners as 2025-26 Aussie summer of cricket schedule including Ashes unveiled

The Olympic thrust that will see Queensland Cricket find a new home at Victoria Park in Brisbane from 2032 will begin later this year with the state to play a significant role in hosting international cricket through winter.

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MACKAY, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 03: Ishan Kishan of India A is spoken to by match Umpire Shawn Craig before commencement of play on day four of the match between Australia A and India A at Great Barrier Reef Arena on November 03, 2024 in Mackay, Australia. (Photo by Albert Perez/Getty Images) Source: Getty Images

While Western Australia will play a big role next summer when hosting three significant matches on the calendar, Cricket Australia is looking to the far north of the country for winter series over the next two years in a precursor to an Olympic push.

Cricket is yet to receive the green light for the Brisbane Olympics in 2032 but it seems likely to be included based on several factors, which is a bonus for a state that has lost its hold on hosting the opening Test of the summer each year.

Cricket will feature in Los Angeles in 2028 as the International Cricket Council seeks to tap into the North American market, while incoming IOC President Kirsty Coventry has a close relationship with Brisbane officials and also met with ICC chairman Jay Shah prior to her historic appointment this month.

Queensland Premier David Crisafulli, meanwhile, also signalled a determination to give Brisbane’s traditional home of cricket at the Gabba an Olympic send-off by hosting the sport’s gold medal match, provided it does feature in the Games in 2032.

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos MARCH 26, 2025: Australian cricket chairman Mike Beard, Premier David Crisafulli, Kai Lohmann and Josh Dunkley. Premier David Crisafulli, Deputy Premier Jarrod Bleijie and Minister for the Olympic and Paralympic Games Tim Mander hold a news conference at the GABBA in Brisbane. Picture: NewsWire / John Gass Source: News Corp Australia

Australia will host South Africa in a series of white ball fixtures in Darwin, Cairns and Mackay in August this year, but of more interest are the longer form Australia A games scheduled next winter, with Darwin and Mackay set to host four day games.

This is viewed as a pointer to a series against Bangladesh later that winter, with venues in the Northern Territory and Far North Queensland set to host international Test matches in August, 2026.

With the timing of the Brisbane Olympics falling in the middle of winter, the venues in the north of the country are certain to host cricket during the Games.

When releasing the schedule, CA said it is celebrating the spread of international cricket across the country over the next season, with matches to be played in 11 cities at 14 different venues in every state and territory for the first time in 17 years.

Already nominated as the home for the opening Test of the Ashes beginning on November 21, Perth will also welcome India downunder for three 50-over games in October prior to a five match T20 series that includes a MCG clash on the eve of the Victoria Derby.

Perth will also crown the season by hosting a women’s Test between Australia and India at the WACA from March 6 to 9 that caps a multi-format series between the two powerhouse nations beginning midway through February with a T20 at the SCG.

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After a record-breaking summer featuring the Border-Gavasker Trophy and a historic pink-ball women’s Test at the MCG, new CA chief executive Todd Greenberg believes the momentum will continue next summer.

“We are excited to announce the schedule for what will be another incredible international season including the grand history and intense rivalry of the Ashes, the fantastic box office appeal of the India men’s and women’s teams and a return to some iconic tourist locations in northern Australia for the white ball series against South Africa,” Greenberg said.

“We smashed many records for attendance, viewing audiences and digital engagement last summer and we’re confident that this incredible momentum will continue throughout what promises to be an engrossing season.

“We are extremely grateful for the co-operation and support of all our government, venue, broadcast and commercial partners who ensure Australia’s national sport continues to deliver brilliant experiences in stadiums and drive participation across the country.”

After controversy flared last November when Australia fielded below full-strength teams in white ball matches against Pakistan, with the proximity of the series to the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy considered a factor, there is a bigger break next summer.

The first ball of the Ashes series will be bowled in Perth 13 days after the conclusion of the white-ball fixtures against India at the Gabba on November 8.

The Gabba will host the day-night Test this summer and it is understood there will be three day-night Sheffield Shield matches scheduled in the infancy of next summer, with each state getting the opportunity to feature in a pink ball match.

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Aside from the international fixtures at the end of the summer, Australia’s champion women cricketers will feature in the ODI World Cup in India in October and will travel to the West Indies after duties at home to feature in a multi-format series that includes a Test.

The BBL and WBBL are set to run in similar windows to this summer, with the final of the former likely to be scheduled on the Australia Day weekend. This would fall in the middle weekend of the Australian Open, which reverts back a full week after an earlier start in 2025.

Queenslander James Hopes plays to the off-side in a T20 match at TIO Stadium in Darwin. Source: News Limited

2025-26 International Schedule

Men’s T20I Series v South Africa

Sunday, August 10: Marrara Stadium, Darwin (N)

Tuesday August 12: Marrara Stadium, Darwin, (N)

Saturday, August 16: Cazalys Stadium, Cairns, (N)

Men’s ODI Series v South Africa

Tuesday, August 19: Cazalys Stadium, Cairns, (D/N)

Friday, August 22: Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, (D/N)

Sunday, August 24: Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, (D/N)

Men’s ODI Series v India

Sunday, October 19: Perth Stadium, Perth, (D/N)

Thursday, October 23: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, (D/N)

Saturday, October 25: SCG, Sydney, (D/N)

Men’s T20I Series v India

Wednesday, October 29: Manuka Oval, Canberra, (N)

Friday, October 31: MCG, Melbourne, (N)

Sunday, November 2: Bellerive Oval, Hobart, (N)

Thursday, November 6: Gold Coast Stadium, Gold Coast, (N)

Saturday, November 8: The Gabba, Brisbane, (N)

NRMA Insurance Men’s Ashes

21-25 November: West Test, Perth Stadium, Perth

4-8 December: Day-Night Test, The Gabba, Brisbane

17-21 December: Christmas Test, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide

26-30 December: Boxing Day Test, MCG, Melbourne

4-8 January: Pink Test, SCG, Sydney

Women’s T20I Series v India

Sunday, February 15: SCG, Sydney, (N)

Thursday, February 19: Manuka Oval, Canberra, (N)

Saturday, February 21: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, (N)

Women’s ODI Series v India

Tuesday, February 24: Allan Border Field, Brisbane, (D/N)

Friday, February 27: Bellerive Oval, Hobart, (D/N)

Sunday March 1: CitiPower Centre, Melbourne, (D/N)

Women’s Test v India

March 6-9: WACA Ground, Perth (D/N)

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