Cricket Australia unveils 2026-27 schedule as Border-Gavaskar Trophy takes center stage – Details inside

Cricket Australia on Sunday revealed its 2026-27 international calendar, and it looks a packed one with barely any breathing space before the high-profile Border-Gavaskar Trophy in India, which is likely to begin around mid or late January.

The five-Test tour of India is shaping up to be a crucial phase in what already looks like a long and tiring stretch for Pat Cummins and his experienced side.

Australia are set to play as many as 10 Tests in just 14 weeks between December and March, making it one of the most demanding schedules they have ever faced.

Tight schedule leaves little room for rest

The home season will begin in August 2026 with a two-Test series against Bangladesh and will run until March 2027, ending with a special day-night Test at the MCG to mark the 150th anniversary against England.

The series against New Zealand at home has been squeezed into just over four weeks, adding more pressure on the players in an already tight calendar.

Australia’s tour of South Africa later this year will go on till the end of October, and right after that, they will host England for an eight-match white-ball series in November.

This leaves very little recovery time before the team heads into the important Test assignments at home and then the big tour of India.

Border-Gavaskar Trophy key challenge

“That Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour, a final frontier for players like Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon, who have never won a series in India, will also be a quick campaign given the anniversary Test in Melbourne begins on March 11,” Cricket Australia said in a release.

“The decision to rest Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood for at least the early rounds of the upcoming IPL shows that CA is being careful in managing their workload ahead of this long season,” the statement added.

Australia’s Test schedule

August: Two Tests vs Bangladesh (home)

October: Three Tests vs South Africa (away)

December-January: Four Tests vs New Zealand (home)

January-March: Five Tests vs India (away)

March 11-15: 150th anniversary Test vs England (home)

June: WTC final (if qualified, England)

June-August: Five Tests vs England (away)

Also READ: Jake Fraser-McGurk withdraws from PSL 2026; Rawalpindi Pindiz eye replacement