Cricket Australia confirms New Year’s Test to be in Sydney for next seven years

Among details of the venues allocated for its matches which were released last week, Cricket Australia confirmed that the New Year’s Test will be held in Sydney for the next seven years.

The announcement was made at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) with the NSW Government advising it will be supporting international men’s and women’s cricket matches in Sydney with ‘Summer of Cricket in Sydney’ marketing and partnership support to be delivered by Destination NSW.

Nick Hockley, Chief Executive Cricket Australia enthused “we are delighted that the SCG will continue to host the historic NRMA Insurance New Year’s Test for the next seven years.

“We are enormously grateful to the NSW Government whose support will help us to enhance this already iconic event, create brilliant experiences for fans and maximise economic outcomes for the state."

The ‘Summer of Cricket in Sydney’ includes the following matches:

• The international men’s New Year’s Test Match, to be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground each year of the Term (New Year Test); and

• Any other women’s international Test matches, men’s and women’s One Day International matches and/or T20 International matches scheduled by Cricket Australia to be staged in Sydney each year over the summer international cricket season.

The New Year’s Test is an event steeped in tradition for local, regional and international cricket fans who make the journey to Sydney each year to attend the event in early January, before starting the year proper.

The New Year’s Test has become more than just a cricket match, it’s the home of the Pink Test, which plays host to Jane McGrath Day, an important fundraising fixture for the McGrath Foundation to deliver the breast cancer nurses across Australia.

The Pink Test has also provided families impacted by breast cancer with an opportunity to commemorate their loved ones.

The NSW Government’s commitment to cricket is significant, investing over $95 million in cricket related programs over the past seven years.

This includes over $47.5 million for the new NSW Cricket Central facility located at Wilson Park, Sydney Olympic Park.

NSW Cricket Central is the home of Cricket NSW, with all its elite men’s and women’s cricket squads and junior player development and includes training wickets, ovals, indoor facilities, administration spaces and a cricket learning and community centre.

With India and England scheduled to tour Australia in 2024/25 and 2025/26 respectively, the landmark agreement with Cricket Australia will provide a significant boost to the NSW visitor economy, cementing Sydney as the nation’s premier destination for major sporting events.

Cricket Australia also announced a standalone celebratory match in Melbourne to commemorate Test cricket's 150th anniversary in 2027 - a feature of an extended men's hosting rights schedule.

While details are yet to be finalised for the Australia-England fixture that honours the inaugural Test played at the MCG from 15th-19th March in 1877, it is expected to rival the memorable Centenary Test staged 100 years later at the same venue.

Details of venue allocations for men's Test matches which, in some cases, are finalised for the next seven summers are:

• Marquee matches at the MCG (Boxing Day Test) and SCG (New Year's Test) are locked in until 2030-31, maintaining traditions at those venues stretching back to 1981-82 and 1989-90 respectively

• Adelaide Oval will host the December 'Christmas Test' in either day-night or day format for the next seven summers, with the next men's Ashes contest in 2025-26 expected to be played as a red-ball match

• Perth's West Test will kick off the men's Test season for the next three years meaning the 2025-26 Ashes campaign begins at a venue other than the Gabba for the first time in more than four decades, and will be the first Ashes Test at the 60,000-seat stadium

• In addition to the scheduled Test against India this summer, Brisbane has been guaranteed a pre-Christmas Test next summer that will be a day-night Ashes Test, expected to immediately follow the series opener in Perth, amid planning for the city's 2032 Olympic Games

Cricket Australia also announced it will continue to work closely with governments in Tasmania, Northern Territory and ACT on exploring opportunities to host international matches over the next seven years. The proposed Macquarie Point stadium new-build in Tasmania is not expected to come online until at least 2029.

For updates on schedules and ticket info go to www.cricket.com.au/register-interest