150th anniversary of Test cricket to be commemorated with once-off Test match
Mark Wood and Ben Stokes
England will face perennial rivals Australia to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the sport's first Test match, contested by the two sides in 1877.
Melbourne Cricket Ground will host the encounter in March 2027, as it did for the 1977 centenary Test won by Australia by 45 runs — coincidentally the same margin of victory as their first meeting in 1877.
Cricket Australia chief executive Nick Hockley said: "The 150th anniversary Test Match at the MCG in March 2027, will be a wonderful celebration of the pinnacle format of the game at one of the world's great sporting arenas and we can't wait to host England on that historic occasion."
England also have a five-match Ashes tour in Australia in 2025-26.
