Australia and Bangladesh will begin their two-match Test series in Darwin on Thursday, marking the first international Test match in the Northern Territory in more than two decades.
The opening match at Marrara Stadium will also launch Australia’s 2026-27 international cricket summer, with the series to be broadcast live on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports.
Darwin last hosted a Test in 2003, when Australia also faced Bangladesh, making this a return of top-level Test cricket to the Top End after a long absence.
Fox Cricket’s coverage will feature a commentary team including Adam Gilchrist, Alyssa Healy, Kerry O’Keeffe, David Warner, Mark Waugh and Brendon Julian. The broadcaster said Healy will make her first appearance in the commentary box since retiring from international cricket at the end of last summer.
Coverage of the first Test begins at 9.30am AEST on Thursday, with the opening ball scheduled for 10.30am AEST.
The Darwin Test is the first part of an eight-month international schedule for the Australian men’s team across Test, one-day and T20 cricket. After the Bangladesh series, Australia is scheduled to play South Africa, England, New Zealand and India, with the season set to conclude with the 150th Anniversary Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March.
The second Test against Bangladesh will be played at Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay from 22 August.
Australia’s women’s team is also scheduled to return to international action later in the year, with home white-ball series against Bangladesh, New Zealand and South Africa from October.
The Bangladesh Test series gives Australia an opportunity to begin its home summer campaign in northern conditions before the schedule shifts to Queensland and the southern states over the coming months.
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