Cricket Australia to Hold First-Ever Ticket Ballot for 150th Anniversary Test at the MCG

The Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) will once again host one of sport’s most significant occasions, as Australia and England meet in the 150th Anniversary Test Match, commemorating 150 years since the world’s first-ever Test in 1877.

Set to take place from 11–15 March 2027, the historic fixture will be played under lights for the first time, blending the rich heritage of Test cricket with the spectacle of the modern game. The match will honour the past, celebrate the present, and ignite the future of cricket — bringing together fans and legends from across generations.

At the official announcement in Melbourne, former Australian captain Greg Chappell and England legend Ian Botham reflected on the enduring rivalry that has shaped cricket for a century and a half.

“It’s hard to beat 150 years of history, and sadly, we’ve been alive for half of it.”

“We’re all very aware of the history of Test cricket between the two countries… it’s one of sport’s greatest rivalries,” Chappell said. 

To manage unprecedented demand, Cricket Australia (CA) has announced it will implement a ticket ballot system for the first time in its history. The ballot will open on 23 December 2025 and close on 6 February 2026, with successful applicants notified by 13 February 2026.

Travel packages for the event will also be available through CA’s Travel Office (CATO) from 21 November 2025, offering fans exclusive access to five days of historic Test cricket.

The 150th Anniversary Test follows in the footsteps of the Centenary Test of 1977, a match that became part of cricket folklore. Remarkably, that game mirrored the result of the original 1877 Test an Australian victory by 45 runs and was described as “the biggest event in Melbourne since the 1956 Olympic Games,” attended by the Queen and millions of viewers worldwide.

The 2027 fixture will continue that legacy, marking the first men’s day-night Test at the MCG and featuring tributes to cricketing greats through special ceremonies and entertainment.

Nearly 50 years after the Centenary Test, anticipation is already building for another unforgettable chapter in cricket history, one that will see the MCG once again stand at the centre of the sporting world.

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