Bangladesh’s long-awaited Australian Test fixtures announced

Cricket Australia has confirmed that the two Tests will be held in Darwin (August 13–17) and Mackay (August 22–26), launching the 2026–27 home international season.

Mackay’s Great Barrier Reef Arena will stage a Test for the first time, becoming Australia’s 12th men’s Test venue.

Meanwhile, Darwin will host its first Test since Sri Lanka’s 2004 tour. Bangladesh previously played a Test in Darwin in 2003.

In recent years, northern venues including Townsville and Cairns have hosted men’s white-ball matches against Zimbabwe, New Zealand and South Africa, while Australia’s women have also played in Mackay.

However, no Test cricket has been staged in the region since 2004.

The winter climate in northern Australia offers hot and dry conditions suitable for cricket, unlike the colder southern states.

Mackay will be Queensland’s only Test venue of the season, with Brisbane’s Gabba unavailable during New Zealand’s December–January tour due to uncertainty surrounding redevelopment plans for the 2032 Olympics.

Darwin last hosted international cricket in 2008 before South Africa played two T20Is there in August last year.