The Northern Territory is hopeful it will not have to endure another two-decade wait between Tests with local administrators hoping the recent Bangladesh boilover can be a springboard for Darwin to become a regular international venue.
Marrara Stadium is expecting to be awarded full marks from ICC match referee Richie Richardson after receiving widespread endorsement for a fair drop-in pitch that allowed an “old-school” contest. Surfaces produced by curator Jake Pavlich for last year’s two T20Is against South Africa were similarly positive.
Cricket Australia has already locked in Darwin as hosts for two post-Ashes ODIs against New Zealand in August next year ahead of next year’s 50-over World Cup in southern Africa.
Northern Territory Cricket is open to hosting a third match iof the NZ series, though CA boss Todd Greenberg has suggested Cairns and Mackay, the latter making its Test debut for this weekend’s Bangladesh series finale, are also in the running.
Greenberg has pointed out that taking Tests to Australia’s remote north is an expensive operation. But his NT Cricket counterpart Gavin Dovey is optimistic the four-day affair that brought in more than 15,000 spectators, more than half from interstate, could unlock extra territory government funding.
“I’d like to think that the product was that good that some of those things can be solved,” Dovey told cricket.com.au in the wake of Darwin hosting its first Test since 2004.
“Once we get through the one-dayers (against NZ in 2027), I’m hoping that we can then we can sit down with the NT Government and CA and say, ‘Right, what does the FTP (Future Tours Programme) look like, and what can the next three years look like?’
“Utopia would be we get to a point where there’s six years of international cricket in a row, which would be a far cry from what it’s been in the past.
“I think we’re in a fantastic position. We had T20s last year, a Test this year, we’ve got one-dayers next year, so we get to sample and test and prove all three formats.
“But I think this week has just been so good – it’s just been on another level – that I’d love to see more Test cricket here.”
The playing schedule for Australia after their current busy run of matches that ends in late-2027 remains unclear with the ICC yet to formalise the FTP beyond next year.
There is an expectation that all countries may play less Test cricket into the future but if current World Test Championship arrangements hold, then off-Broadway series in winter like the one against Bangladesh may endure.
That would appear the best hope for Darwin – and northern Queensland venues like Mackay, Cairns and Townsville which also have favourable ‘off-season’ weather – to see more Test cricket.
More limited-overs matches may be a more realistic starting point, however, says Greenberg.
“Test cricket may be more difficult, but we’ve certainly got plans to play white-ball cricket here,” he told the ABC. “Playing in this temperature, these conditions at this time of year, probably is a sign that cricket very rarely stops … it seems like such a great opportunity to do it at this time of year, so let’s keep doing it.
“The challenge for places like this is it’s very expensive. It’s a very expensive place to come to, to bring cricket to. Our broadcast partners … know the expense to come to locations like Darwin.
“The support of government, support of tourism agencies, in order to help us offset some of those costs are really important. But I’m really pleased we’re here, and there’s young boys and girls here (who) hopefully see their heroes in the Australian cricket team, who then go on and play cricket and be lifelong fans.”
In the meantime, Dovey is bullish on the prospects of the Top End T20 tournament that begins this week and which has been touted as something of an unofficial Big Bash men’s minor-league competition.
Adelaide Strikers, Hobart Hurricanes, along with Victoria and the ACT, are sending up teams this year and will play visiting sides from New Zealand, Pakistan, Nepal, along with a Northern Territory Strike side led by recently deposed Queensland and Brisbane Heat coach Johan Botha.
Six games will be played on the Marrara drop-in surface before it is taken out to accommodate an AFLW match later this month. Many of the 30 games will be played under lights.
“Last year was probably the biggest leap that the event took across lots of different areas,” said Dovey, who pointed to huge viewership numbers on the subcontinent.
“Hearing coaches and players in the BBL that were up here start talking about it as though this is second best T20 comp in Australia now behind the BBL is quite sobering.
“I think that’s a good reflection of where we’ve got it to. You’re seeing international teams and international-quality players now very much a part of it. Our broadcast was exceptional last year … right up there with Major League Cricket.
“So we’ve certainly gotten to a point where we think it’s a great product and a great example of what winter cricket can look like up here.”
Indeed, the tournament might have played a small part in Australia’s downfall last week.
Player of the Test Hasan Mahmud, who snared nine wickets, and first-innings centurion Tanzid Hasan, featured in the 2025 and 2024 editions of the tournament respectively for the Bangladesh high performance XI.
Going back further, now-Test captain Najmul Shanto played matches in Darwin on a Bangladesh development tour in 2017.
Dovey, before heading up Australian cricket’s smallest state or territory cricket association, spent 11 years managing the Australian men’s team. He conceded he had been conflicted after last week’s upset result. “It’s hard because the event has gone so well,” he said.
“Everyone is talking up Darwin, and everyone is talking up Test cricket, an old-school Test cricket wicket and game, and this historic win for a minnow, per se, rolling one of the best Australian teams that we’ve seen. All of that is great for cricket in the Territory.
“But in the same sense, I very much feel for a group of players that are obviously copping a lot of darts and are very good, care deeply, and just got outplayed.”
NRMA Insurance Bangladesh Test series
First Test: Bangladesh beat Australia by nine wickets in Darwin
Second Test: August 22-26, Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay, 10am (local)
Australia squad: Pat Cummins (c), Scott Boland, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Josh Inglis, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Matthew Renshaw, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Beau Webster
Bangladesh squad: Najmul Hossain Shanto (c), Mehidy Hasan Miraz (vc), Soumya Sarkar, Shadman Islam, Tanzid Hasan Tamim, Mominul Haque, Mushfiqur Rahim, Litton Das, Amite Hasan, Jaker Ali, Taijul Islam, Taskin Ahmed, Hasan Mahmud, Syed Khaled Ahmed, Ebadot Chowdhury, Shoriful Islam, Musfik Hasan
