Cricket Australia is open to the idea of England and Australia playing a Test match in India, according to Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg. Such a fixture could help generate renewed interest in the Test format.
Traditionally, the Ashes series, contested between England and Australia, is played on a home-and-away basis. However, the two nations are scheduled to play a one-off Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March 2027 to commemorate the 150th anniversary of their first Test encounter.
Greenberg indicated that the prospect of staging this historic rivalry in India should be considered. "It's not something that we are planning, but it's open for consideration. We'd have to be open to considering all options," Greenberg told BBC Sport. He added that strong relationships with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) exist, presenting potential opportunities for additional content in India.
This discussion follows Cricket Australia's initiative to expand its presence in India. The Big Bash League is set to be played overseas for the first time, with a match between Melbourne Renegades and Perth Scorchers scheduled for Chennai in December. This move aims to enhance the competition's international appeal by engaging with cricket's largest market.
Despite the popularity of Twenty20 and the Indian Premier League, Test match viewership in India has seen a decline in recent years. Greenberg believes that a Test match between England and Australia on Indian soil would capture significant attention. "I think Test cricket between us, India and England is very strong and probably bucking the trend in some other parts of the world. We want to make sure we grow and strengthen it," he stated.