By Nick Creely

International cricket will return to the Northern Territory for the first time in 17 years with Marrara Stadium in Darwin to host two Twenty20 internationals between Australia and South Africa in August. All eyes will be on the highly-anticipated fixtures in the Top End on August 10 and August 12 – the first time men’s Twenty20s will be played at the venue – and will open a blockbuster Australian summer with Cricket Australia announcing that 11 cities and 14 venues will host international matches in 2025-26.

NT Cricket head of facilities and Marrara Stadium head curator Jake Pavlich and his crew will be looking to make good use of Darwin’s dry season weather between May and September which should provide an excellent cricket wicket. Marrara Stadium re-introduced drop-in wickets into the ground for the ICC Under 19 World Cup East Asia-Pacific qualifier tournament in July 2023.

Every state and territory will be represented in this summer’s jam-packed calendar, which includes the men’s Ashes Series, a white ball series against India men’s, a women’s multiformat series against India alongside the Northern Australia Series. The full 2025/2026 international schedule is:

Men’s T20I Series v South Africa
August 10: Marrara Stadium, Darwin (N)
August 12: Marrara Stadium, Darwin (N)
August 16: Cazalys Stadium, Cairns (N)

Men’s ODI Series v South Africa
August 19: Cazalys Stadium, Cairns (D/N)
August 22: Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay (D/N)
August 24: Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay (D/N)

Men’s ODI Series v India
October 19: Perth Stadium, Perth (D/N)
October 23: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (D/N)
October 25: SCG, Sydney (D/N)

Men’s T20I Series v India
October 29: Manuka Oval, Canberra (N)
October 31: MCG, Melbourne (N)
November 2: Bellerive Oval, Hobart (N)
November 6: Gold Coast Stadium, Gold Coast (N)
November 8: The Gabba, Brisbane (N)

NRMA Insurance Men’s Ashes
21-25 November: West Test, Perth Stadium, Perth
4-8 December: Day-Night Test, The Gabba, Brisbane
17-21 December: Christmas Test, Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
26-30 December: Boxing Day Test, MCG
4-8 January: Pink Test, SCG, Sydney

Women’s T20I Series v India
February 15: SCG, Sydney (N)
February 19: Manuka Oval, Canberra (N)
February 21: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (N)

Women’s ODI Series v India
February 24: Allan Border Field, Qld (D/N)
February 27: Bellerive Oval, Hobart (D/N)
March 1: CitiPower Centre, Melb (D/N)

Women’s Test v India
March 6-9: WACA Ground, Perth (D/N)