Test cricket has officially arrived back in Australia’s Top End, with Australian stars Alex Carey and Jake Weatherald joining Bangladesh fast bowler Taskin Ahmed at East Point Beach in Darwin to launch the NRMA Insurance Northern Australia Test Series.
The launch comes as Darwin prepares to host Australia’s first Test match in the city in more than two decades, with the opening encounter against Bangladesh scheduled for August 13 to 17 at Marrara Stadium. The second Test will follow in Mackay from August 22 to 26, creating a historic two-match series across northern Australia.
Tickets for the first Test are available at cricket.com.au/tickets.
For Darwin, the return of Test cricket is a major sporting moment. The city last hosted a men’s Test in 2004, when Australia played Sri Lanka. Bangladesh’s upcoming visit also carries historical significance, with the series marking the country’s first Test tour of Australia since 2003.
The decision to bring Test cricket to northern Australia reflects Cricket Australia’s efforts to make use of the region’s favourable winter conditions while expanding the reach of international cricket beyond the traditional venues in Australia’s southern capitals. Darwin’s dry-season climate provides a suitable window for hosting five-day cricket during Australia’s winter months.
The opening Test will be played at Marrara Stadium, with play scheduled to begin at 10am local time. The venue has already developed a strong reputation for hosting international cricket after the return of men’s international white-ball matches to Darwin in recent years.
The series will then move south-east to Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay, where the second Test will be played from August 22 to 26. The match will be the first men’s Test hosted in Mackay, marking another milestone for Queensland’s regional cricket ambitions.
The Darwin launch also featured a strong local connection through Jake Weatherald. Born in Darwin, the Australian opener has returned to the national Test squad after his time in Tasmania and his return to South Australia. His selection has generated particular excitement in the Northern Territory because he is poised to become the first locally born player to represent Australia in a Test on home soil in the Territory.
For Weatherald, the Bangladesh series represents more than an opportunity to play in front of family, friends and supporters from his home region. His performances in Darwin and Mackay could have an important bearing on his future in Australia’s Test side, with selection pressure expected to remain high ahead of upcoming international assignments.
Weatherald’s presence also provides a full-circle moment for the Northern Territory. Former Australian fast bowler Jason Gillespie, who played in Darwin’s previous Test matches, has recalled meeting Weatherald as a child during Australia’s 2003 Test against Bangladesh. More than two decades later, Weatherald is now preparing to potentially take the field for Australia in the same city.
Experienced wicketkeeper-batter Alex Carey is another important part of Australia’s squad for the series. Carey has been named alongside fellow South Australians Travis Head and Weatherald in Australia’s 13-player squad, with captain Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon also returning to the group.
For Bangladesh, Taskin Ahmed will be one of the key players expected to lead the visitors’ bowling attack. Bangladesh will face an Australian side packed with experience, making the two Tests a significant challenge as the visitors return to Australia for the first time in more than 20 years.
The series is also important in the context of the 2025–27 ICC World Test Championship. Australia currently sit at the top of the WTC standings after a strong start to the cycle, while Bangladesh enter the series lower down the table and will be looking for valuable points from their Australian campaign.
Australia’s preparation has already generated plenty of interest. Ahead of the Test, a Cricket Australia XI defeated Bangladesh in a warm-up match in Darwin, with South Australian youngster Campbell Thompson producing a remarkable bowling performance and taking eight wickets as Bangladesh suffered a dramatic batting collapse. Bangladesh were dismissed for just 54 in their second innings, giving the visitors plenty to consider before the first Test.
The Australian squad, meanwhile, has returned to Darwin with a mixture of established Test stars and players fighting to secure their positions. Steve Smith, Travis Head, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Alex Carey, Cameron Green, Marnus Labuschagne, Beau Webster and Jake Weatherald are among the players named in the squad.
The series comes at the beginning of a demanding period for Australia, with further Test cricket against South Africa, New Zealand and India ahead. That makes the Bangladesh matches particularly important for players seeking to establish themselves before a packed international schedule. Weatherald, in particular, will have a significant opportunity to strengthen his position through performances in familiar surroundings.
For Darwin’s multicultural community, the Australia-Bangladesh series offers an additional opportunity to celebrate international cricket close to home. Bangladesh has a passionate cricket following in Australia, while the broader multicultural audience across the Northern Territory is expected to add to the atmosphere surrounding the historic return of Test cricket.
The series also highlights the growing importance of regional Australia in the country’s international sporting calendar. Cricket Australia’s decision to stage Tests in Darwin and Mackay demonstrates that world-class cricket can be successfully taken beyond the traditional major-city venues, while giving regional communities the chance to experience the sport’s longest format at the highest level.
With Alex Carey, Jake Weatherald and Taskin Ahmed officially launching the series at East Point Beach, the countdown to the first ball in Darwin is now well underway. For Weatherald and the people of the Northern Territory, the occasion carries a special local significance; for Bangladesh, it represents a long-awaited return to Australian Test cricket; and for fans across the country, it marks the beginning of an unusual and highly anticipated northern summer of Test cricket.
The first Test between Australia and Bangladesh will be played at Marrara Stadium, Darwin, from August 13 to 17, before the teams travel to Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay for the second Test from August 22 to 26. Both matches are scheduled to begin at 10am local time, setting the stage for a historic series across Australia’s tropical north.
