Darwin to host Australia A-Sri Lanka A series in July
Bangladesh is also expected to visit Darwin, with a two-Test series scheduled for Australia in mid-2026.
Darwin is all set to host a multi-format Australia A vs Sri Lanka A series in July. This will see the return of first-class cricket to the Northern Territory after a 19-year gap, with five matches scheduled, three 50-over games and two four-day encounters.
The series will kick off on July 4 at the Marrara Cricket Ground, with all three one-day games scheduled to be played at the same venue. The first-class leg begins on July 13 at Marrara Stadium, featuring a drop-in pitch, before moving back to the cricket ground for the second four-day match from July 20.
The last time Darwin hosted a first-class fixture was in 2006, when Brad Haddin-led Australia A faced Pakistan A. That series featured future stars like Shane Watson and Mitchell Johnson and was a historic moment for Northern Territory cricket.
This initiative comes after Cricket Australia's strategy of keeping cricket alive year-round. With selectors still fine-tuning options ahead of the Ashes summer, the series will be a platform for emerging talent to shine. While the Australia A squad is yet to be announced, it is expected to feature stars not contracted to English county sides. South Australia’s Jason Sangha, fresh off a strong domestic season, is one name to be included.
Bangladesh is also expected to visit the city, with a two-Test series scheduled for Australia in mid-2026. Initially, the ICC's Future Tours Programme had scheduled Home Tests against Bangladesh for March 2027. However, with the expansion of the 2026-27 summer to include four Tests against New Zealand and the 150th Anniversary Test against England in March 2027, Bangladesh is now expected to tour Australia in approximately 15 months.
Australia A vs Sri Lanka A, Darwin
July 4: First 50-over match | Marrara Cricket Ground (D/N)
July 6: Second 50-over match | Marrara Cricket Ground
July 9: Third 50-over match | Marrara Cricket Ground
July 13 - 16: First four-day match | Marrara Stadium
July 20 - 23: Second four-day match | Marrara Cricket Ground
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