Cricket Australia says the possibility of a day-night Boxing Day Test is “not off the cards”.
The MCG held a women’s day-night Test match in January 2025 and will play host to the 150th Anniversary Test between Australia and England under lights in March 2027.
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The first Boxing Day Test at Melbourne’s colosseum was played in 1950 and the stadium has reached a deal with the Victorian government to continue its tradition until at least 2030.
CA chief executive Todd Greenberg played a straight bat when asked whether he would assess the success of that Anniversary Test to decide the future of Boxing Day.
But he provided a glimmer of hope for those pushing for a later start after a day of family festivities.
“Look, it’s not off the cards,” Greenberg said.
“We’ve been talking a lot about the strength of pink-ball cricket, it was amazing this year in Brisbane, it has been really good in Adelaide.
“March 2027, it will get its opportunity here in Melbourne.”
The ballot for that floodlit fixture in front of what will almost certainly be a record crowd opened during the week. Greenberg says the need for a ballot reveals the demand Cricket Australia is anticipating for the match.
“I don’t have the early numbers but the concept of running a ballot will give you some demonstration of what we see in this event,” he said.
“The strength of ticket sales and the interest it will have, 150 years of cricket between our two countries is going to be a pretty special moment.
“Those who were here in the ’77 Centenary (Test) still talk about it in great affection, and our job is to make sure that happens again at the 150th in March 2027.”
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Perth, Hobart, Brisbane and, predominantly, Adelaide have hosted the pink-ball matches but it is yet to hit Melbourne or Sydney.
Melbourne Cricket Club boss Stuart Fox prefers the day fixture across both his stadium’s major codes.
“I actually love the tradition, personally, I love the tradition of a day game here,” Fox said.
“I think the day-night Tests have been great in Adelaide and Brisbane. I am a bit of a traditionalist – I love a day AFL grand final and love a day Boxing Day Test.”
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