Follow UsIt’s been over two decades since Darwin last hosted a Test match, but that is all set to change in 2026 as the Marrara Oval looks primed to host at least one of Australia’s two Tests against Bangladesh next winter.
July 01, 2004, was the last time Darwin hosted a Test, with Sri Lanka taking on Australia, but the venue has seen no red-ball action since then. In fact, earlier this month, Darwin hosted its first-ever T20 International games, with the first two T20Is between Australia and South Africa taking place at the Marrara Oval.
Now, the city of Darwin looks all set to taste Test cricket again in the form of Australia’s series against Bangladesh next year, which is a part of the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle.
"I spent some time with the Chief Minister there [Darwin] and they've got a strong appetite for more cricket, as have we, to play more cricket there,” Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said.
"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."
2025 has seen Australia play cricket at home during the winter, and, apart from Darwin, Mackay and Cairns have also hosted international games.
"We had such good support [in the white-ball games], we were sold out in almost every stadium we played in," Greenberg said.
"Playing on each of the shoulder parts of the season [works]. Our Australian women's team will play a Test match in Perth in mid-March this year. International cricket is played 12 months of the year."
2003 was the last time Bangladesh played Test cricket in Australia. That was a two-Test series (which Australia won 2-0), with Darwin and Cairns hosting the two games.