Last Updated on 4 weeks by Charbel Coorey
Darwin is in pole position to host at least one of the two Tests between Australia and Bangladesh in mid-2026. According to reports, players were impressed with Darwin in the T20I series against South Africa last month, with two sell-outs, terrific weather, and good pitch conditions headlining the action.
The matches against Bangladesh are set to be Australia’s first winter Test series since hosting Sri Lanka in Darwin and Cairns in 2004. The same locations hosted two Tests against the Tigers a year earlier.
Darwin and North Queensland expected to host Australia vs Bangladesh Tests in 2026
Mararra Cricket Oval in Darwin is set to host its first Test in 22 years. Conditions in the winter months are perfect for cricket compared to other cities further south, with dry conditions and temperatures in the low 30s.
The other Test is likely to be played either in Cairns or Mackay. The latter is reportedly a strong chance of hosting its first ever Test as the Great Barrier Reef Arena received an upgrade in 2023.
Todd Greenberg confirmed they are looking at two different venues for the Australia-Bangladesh Tests. Also, the CEO said there is nothing to worry about with the weather.
“Ideally (we will consider two locations),” Greenberg said, as quoted by cricket.com.au. “We want to make sure we continue to play cricket in lots of different locations, so the next generation of kids can see their stars.
“I spent some time with the Chief Minister there and they’ve got a strong appetite for more cricket, as have we, to play more cricket there.
“The conditions up there are amazing when you take out the biggest variable we have in cricket, which is weather, and you have nothing to worry about.”
Australia and Bangladesh set for rare meeting in Test cricket
Bangladesh’s last Test tour of Australia came way back in 2003. Habibul Bashar’s team were expectedly trounced by a champion Australian team.
The Tigers were due to tour Australia in mid-2018, but CA cancelled that tour due to commercial reasons.
“To be honest it hasn’t been a great success, playing in the past as we have in northern Australia,” said then-CEO James Sutherland, as quoted by ESPNcricinfo. “Even more so now with the rise of the profile of the football codes, particularly NRL and AFL, it just means we get swamped and it doesn’t make sense. Besides the huge cost to play up there and getting broadcasters and what have you to pick it up, just makes it difficult.”
However, current CEO Greenberg is more optimistic. “We had such good support (in the white-ball games against South Africa), we were sold out in almost every stadium we played in,” he said.
“Playing on each of the shoulder parts of the season (works). Our Australian women’s team will play a Test match in mid-March in Perth this year. International cricket is played 12 months of the year.”
Since 2003, Australia and Bangladesh have met just twice for a Test series. The first was in 2006, where Adam Gilchrist and Ricky Ponting helped Australia avoid the biggest upset in Test history in Fatullah. In the second Test, Jason Gillespie hit that famous double hundred at Chattogram.
The next meeting was 11 years later in 2017. Led by Shakib Al Hasan’s all-round heroics, Bangladesh sealed a historic victory by 20 runs in the first Test at Mirpur. Australia bounced back to win the second Test by seven wickets at Chattogram. Nathan Lyon was the chief destroyer with 13 wickets.
