Cricket Australia is preparing for a historic celebration as the 150th anniversary of the first-ever Test match approaches, with plans underway for a grand event at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. The milestone match will see the Australia cricket team take on the England national cricket team from March 11 to 15 next year in what will be a special day-night Test to commemorate the historic occasion.
The match will mark 150 years since the first Test match between Australia and England was played at the same venue in 1877. To honour the legacy of Test cricket, officials have extended invitations to several global cricket legends and members of the royal family, including King Charles III. According to Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg, the board has already reached out through official diplomatic channels to invite the British monarch or a representative to attend the landmark fixture.
“We’ve extended an invitation through all the appropriate channels, both government here and in the UK, for the King or a representative to be here,” Greenberg told the Sydney Morning Herald. “It’s certainly high on our list.”
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The historic encounter also carries emotional significance because the 1977 Centenary Test at the MCG — played exactly 100 years after the inaugural match — was attended by Queen Elizabeth II. All surviving members of the Australia and England squads from that famous match have also been invited to attend the anniversary celebration.
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King Charles invited as Australia and England mark 150 Years of Test cricket at MCG 🏏🇦🇺🏴https://t.co/VRSDTabuUJ
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Greenberg added that officials may adjust the schedule slightly to ensure the royal guest can witness the opening moments of the Test. “We might arrange his visit slightly earlier in the Test match, as modern-day Tests may not last the full five days,” he said. “We’ll ensure a royal presence for the opening ball on day one.”
Interest in the event has already been extraordinary. More than 125,000 tickets have been sold through the initial ballot, with most public tickets for the first three days quickly snapped up.
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“We anticipated strong demand for tickets to the 150th anniversary Test, but the response locally and internationally has been phenomenal,” Greenberg said. In addition to former Test captains and Australia-England legends, all living inductees of the International Cricket Council Hall of Fame have been invited. Officials are also hopeful that the famous The Ashes urn — currently housed at the Marylebone Cricket Club at Lord’s — will travel to Melbourne for the historic celebration.
