The match from March 4 to 6 will be staged at Junction Oval, which has recently had floodlights installed that will be used for the first time during the WBBL later this year, ahead of the pink-ball Test starting on March 11. The PM’s XI game is traditionally played at Manuka Oval in Canberra.
Both England and Australia will face a tight turnaround into the anniversary Test: Australia finish a five-Test series in India on March 3 while England will be coming straight from Bangladesh. For Australia it is part of a run of at least 20 Tests in 11 months from August. It will be England’s second trip down under during the 2026-27 following a white-ball tour in November that features three ODIs and five T20Is.
Officially, at least, last season’s PM XI’s fixture did provide England a chance to prepare for the day-night Test in Brisbane but the visitors opted to field the A side for the two-day pink-ball game – supplemented by Jacob Bethell, Josh Tongue and Matthew Potts who would later feature in the Ashes – citing the vastly different conditions between Maunka Oval and the Gabba.
“The Prime Minister’s XI match has a proud place in Australian cricket history and it’s fitting the XI will take on the best England can throw at us ahead of the one-off Test,” Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
“The 150th Anniversary Test will be a special occasion for cricket fans across Australia and around the world, and I look forward to helping select a Prime Minister’s XI that will provide a terrific contest in the lead-up to that historic match.”
Todd Greenberg, the CA chief executive, said: “Playing the match under lights in Melbourne will give the PM’s XI fantastic exposure during what will be an exciting time for cricket. We are confident there will be big crowds at the Junction Oval to see the PM’s XI take on a full-strength England team as they prepare for the challenge of facing Australia in the 150th Anniversary Test match.”
Canberra will host two full internationals in the 2026-27 season: England’s men play a T20I on December 2 and New Zealand’s women visit for an ODI on March 6.
