Smashing England in the Ashes was huge. Knocking off India in a thrilling series was just as big a year prior. But the totality of the summer to come shapes as being just as significant for Australia.
A hefty Test schedule that begins with a Top End series in August against Bangladesh and includes a compressed fixture against New Zealand also boasts three other major moments against Australia’s greatest Test rivals. Scroll down to see the schedule!
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An away series against South Africa, the reigning World Test Championship titleholders, in October will be Australia’s first against the Proteas since the infamous “sandpaper-gate” in 2018 that caused massive recriminations.
Within a couple of days of the Pink Ball Test against New Zealand at the SCG finishing, the Pat Cummins-captained Aussies will be jetting off to India in the hope of cementing their greatness as a generational Test side with a subcontinent success.
On their return, the MCG beckons for the 150th Anniversary Test against England in March, the perfect precursor to an away Ashes in late June and a potential WTC Final spot for the third straight cycle as well.
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It is an exacting but exciting schedule that pits the champion Aussie Test team up against the AFL and NRL and then, more significantly, in a direct head-to-head battle of the timeslots against the Australian Open in late January.
Cricket Australia is excited by what is to come and unapologetic about tackling rival codes in their usual timeslots after the encroachment those sports have made in spring and autumn.
Peter Roach, who heads operations and scheduling for Cricket Australia, is confident the crammed schedule will lead to a massive focus on cricket given the opponents and what is at stake.
“Without England and India Tests, there is always a default (position) that this is a lesser summer but I don’t think that is the case this summer,” Roach said.
“One, we have a pretty good home schedule with the England white ball and four New Zealand Tests and the 150th (Test) against England, but equally the whole year of Test cricket, the build-up, South Africa and India and the Ashes series really late, it is just a really brilliant year of men’s cricket, looking at the men’s side, and there is some good stuff in the women’s side as well.”
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An elongated schedule begins with a match against Bangladesh in Darwin on August 13, with another to follow in Mackay.
The Aussies will head to South Africa for a three-match ODI series beginning in Durban on September 24 before the highly-anticipated Test series starting October 9 in the same city.
Australia has not played a Test in South Africa, which upset the Aussies in the WTC Final at Lord’s in June, 2025, since the controversial 2018 series which led to suspensions for Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft for ball tampering in an acrimonious visit.
The Aussies will then play three ODIs and five T20s against England in November, beginning with an outing in Perth on December 13, in a series that carries added weight.
There is uncertainty surrounding the 2028 Olympics cut-off and Australia currently sits behind New Zealand in the rankings, adding importance to encounters in the shortest format given the likelihood only one country from each region will feature.
The clock is also ticking to Australia’s defence of its ODI World Cup title, with the matches against South Africa and England later in the year providing an opportunity to identify talent.
The four Test series against New Zealand is compressed to less than a month due to the Kiwis clash at home with India in late November and Australia’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour that begins in late January.
The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy Series begins in Perth on December 9 and will see the two nations play four Tests in less than a month, with Adelaide hosting the pre-Christmas Test before the regular MCG and SCG outings.
While this is certain to challenge the Australian bowling attack, with selectors foreshadowing the prospect of rotating the nation’s quicks, Roach believes it will add to the excitement.
“Crucially we got four Tests in the summer, rather than three, which we think is a really big win, and we also think the closeness together will create some real momentum for that series,” he said.
“This is a huge series for New Zealand, as we know, coming over here is the equal of any (series) they play. They love it.
“They’ll bring the crowds with them and as distinct from, I guess, the India and England series, where we get a couple of big breaks in the series to let players refresh and get through the long Test series, having them fall back to back should create momentum in this space.”
The omission of the Gabba from the Test roster stems from the uncertainty surrounding its future status at the time the Future Tours planning was cemented and the clash in Mackay against Bangladesh is Queensland’s only Test this year.
While the dates and venues for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy Tour have not yet been specified, it is likely the highly-anticipated series will begin late in the first week of the Australian Open tennis, which runs from January 17 to January 31 in 2027.
With the Sydney Test is slated to run from January 4 to 8, and with Cricket Australia keen to ensure matches last at least four days after the debacles in Perth and Melbourne against England, it is probable the Aussies will have only a brief break prior to the India task.
On returning from India in late February, Australia will then host England in the special day-night Test at the MCG beginning on March 11.
While Australia is in a dominant position in the World Test Championship standings, the away tour against South Africa and India are challenging and the 150th Anniversary Test could be crucial to the bid to qualify for the WTC decider.
Meanwhile, after whitewashing England in the Ashes and then proving too good for India in the recent series, Australia’s champion women’s team will not host a Test next summer.
The Aussies host Bangladesh in October and New Zealand in February, with the NZ Cricket Board declining the invitation for an all-format series, instead preferring a white ball tour.
“We’re delighted to release an international schedule that ensures fans across Australia will see our brilliant national teams play over eight months at many fantastic venues across the country,” Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg said.
“Our rivalry with the Kiwis has always been hard fought and produced many memorable moments and the men’s Test series and women’s white ball series will be no exception.”
2026-27 INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULE
All times listed below are local
Men’s
NRMA Insurance Men’s Test Series v Bangladesh
First Test: August 13 – 17, Marrara Stadium, Darwin, 10am
Second Test: August 22 – 26, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, 10am
Tour of South Africa
First ODI: September 24, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
Second ODI: September 27, Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
Third ODI: September 30, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom (D/N)
Warm-up match: October 3-4, JB Marks Oval, Potchefstroom
First Test: October 9-13, Kingsmead Stadium, Durban
Second Test: October 18-22, St George’s Park, Gqeberha
Third Test: October 27-31, Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town
Men’s ODI Series v England
Friday, November 13: Perth Stadium, Perth, 11.30am (D/twilight)
Sunday, November 15: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 2pm (D/N)
Wednesday, November 18: Bellerive Oval, Hobart, 2.30pm (D/N)
Men’s T20I Series v England
Saturday, November 21: MCG, Melbourne, 7.15pm (N)
Tuesday, November 24: Gold Coast Stadium, Gold Coast, 6.15pm (N)
Friday, November 27: The Gabba, Brisbane, 6.15pm (N)
Sunday, November 29: SCG, Sydney, 7.15pm (N)
Wednesday, December 2: Manuka Oval, Canberra, 7.15pm (N)
NRMA Insurance Men’s Test Series v New Zealand
First Test: December 9 – 13, Perth Stadium, Perth, 10.20am
Second Test: December 17 – 21: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide, 11am
Third Test: December 26 – 30: MCG, Melbourne, 10.30am
Fourth Test: January 4-8: SCG, Sydney, 10.30am
Tour of India
TBC – Slated for late January through February (from January 21 onwards)
150th Anniversary Test Match against England
March 11 – 15: MCG, Melbourne, 2.00pm (D/N)
Women’s
NRMA Insurance Women’s ODI Series v Bangladesh
Friday, October 9: Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 1.50pm (D/N)
Sunday, October 11: Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 1.50pm (D/N)
Wednesday, October 14: Allan Border Field, Brisbane, 1.50pm (D/N)
NRMA Insurance Women’s T20I Series v Bangladesh
Sunday, October 18: North Sydney Oval, Sydney, 7.15pm (N)
Tuesday, October 20: North Sydney Oval, Sydney, 7.15pm (N)
Thursday, October 22: North Sydney Oval, Sydney, 7.15pm (N)
NRMA Insurance Women’s T20I Series v New Zealand
Sunday, February 21: North Sydney Oval, Sydney, 1.30pm (D)
Wednesday, February 24: Manuka Oval, Canberra, 7.15pm (N)
Friday, February 26: CitiPower Centre, Melbourne, 7.15pm (N)
NRMA Insurance Women’s ODI Series v New Zealand
Monday, March 1: CitiPower Centre, Melbourne, 2.50pm (D/N)
Friday, March 5: Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide, 2.20pm (D/N)
Sunday, March 7: Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide, 2.20pm (D/N)
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