Australia’s 2026-27 men’s domestic cricket season will begin on 18 September, with Cricket Australia unveiling a schedule designed to support the international calendar while giving players more opportunities at the country’s leading Test venues.
The domestic season opens with the One-Day Cup, where all six state teams will compete for the Dean Jones Trophy. Defending champions New South Wales will begin their title defence before the final on 14 February.
The Sheffield Shield season starts on 7 October, with reigning champions South Australia looking to retain the title. The Sheffield Shield final is scheduled to begin on 25 March.
Cricket Australia has confirmed that every state will host home Sheffield Shield matches at its major Test ground during the season. Perth Stadium will stage Sheffield Shield cricket for the first time in eight years, with Round 5 finishing just 12 days before the Perth Test to give players experience in Test conditions.
A day-night round of Sheffield Shield matches in February has been scheduled at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Adelaide Oval and the Gabba as part of preparations for the 150th Anniversary Test at the MCG. The timing is intended to help players gain further experience with the pink ball later in the domestic season.
The One-Day Cup schedule includes a fixture between Victoria and New South Wales under lights at Junction Oval on 25 September, the evening before the AFL Grand Final.
Ahead of Australia’s international commitments, a Cricket Australia XI will meet Bangladesh in a three-day match at Marrara Ground in Darwin from 6 to 8 August before the Darwin Test. A Prime Minister’s XI will then play England in a pink-ball three-day match at Junction Oval from 4 to 6 March 2027.
Cricket Australia said both fixtures will provide development opportunities for emerging players while assisting preparations for international matches.
The men’s development squad will also travel to India in August for a 13-day training program at the MRF Academy in Chennai. Squads for the development programs will be announced later.
Cricket Australia Head of Scheduling and Domestic Cricket Peter Roach said the season had been planned to strengthen the connection between domestic and international cricket.
“We are excited to launch another domestic season, delivering an extensive schedule of cricket across the country.
“The schedule has been designed to ensure our domestic competitions play a key role in providing performance opportunities for players and support a strong summer of international cricket.
“The February day-night Sheffield Shield round across the MCG, Adelaide Oval and the Gabba provides an important platform for players to develop their skills in pink-ball conditions, with its timing later in the season allowing us to take advantage of optimal conditions and build into the 150th Anniversary Test.
“We’re also pleased that every state will host some home Sheffield Shield matches at its major Test cricket venues this season, including the return of Sheffield Shield cricket to Perth Stadium for the first time in eight years.
“Across the season, there are also key moments for fans, including the One-Day Cup fixture in Melbourne on AFL Grand Final Eve. We are confident that scheduling matches across a mix of major stadiums and traditional venues will again deliver high-quality experiences for players and fans alike.
“We look forward to the start of the domestic season on 18 September and thank the State and Territory Associations and the Australian Cricketers’ Association for their ongoing support.”
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