Cricket Australia announced its 2026-27 international calendar on Sunday, revealing one of the most demanding schedules in the team’s history.
Australia will play 10 Tests in a 14-week stretch between December and March, including a five-Test Border-Gavaskar Trophy series in India starting mid or late January.
The schedule begins in August 2026 with two home Tests against Bangladesh, followed by three away Tests in South Africa in October. Australia then hosts New Zealand for four Tests in December and January before travelling to India for the marquee Border-Gavaskar Trophy. The campaign concludes with a historic day-night Test against England at the MCG from March 11–15, marking the 150th anniversary of Test cricket.
Cricket Australia described the India tour as a “final frontier” for senior players like Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, none of whom have won a series in India. The board also confirmed that Starc, Cummins, and Hazlewood will miss the opening rounds of the IPL to manage workloads ahead of the intense run.
The calendar further includes a potential World Test Championship final in June, followed by a five-Test Ashes series in England from June to August. Officials acknowledged the taxing nature of the schedule but emphasised the importance of balancing player fitness with marquee fixtures.
