In 2003 Cricket Australia tried an experiment: they decided to play Test cricket at home during the Australian winter, in Cairns and Darwin..
The two-Test series, against Bangladesh, saw Australia win 2-0.
In 2004 Australia played two Tests against Sri Lanka at the same venues.
Since then, the Top End hasn’t seen any Test cricket, but according to the ICC future tours program, Australia is scheduled to host Bangladesh for two Tests and three ODIs in August 2017.
It is unlikely that Bangladesh or Zimbabwe will play Test cricket in Australia during the summer, because they are not going to draw a big enough crowd – this could be the case for the West Indies soon as well, after their poor performances over the past summer.
Instead, Australia could play Test series against these nations in northern Australia during the winter every couple of years.
The venues are there – Marrara Stadium in Darwin and Cazaly’s Stadium in Cairns have both hosted Test cricket, while Traeger Park in Alice Springs, Tony Ireland Stadium in Townsville, and Harrup Park in Mackay have all hosted first-class cricket.
These venues could rotate matches, with each ground getting either an ODI or Test match each time a team toured.
With the summer schedule becoming more and more crowded, Australia qould benefit from playing matches at a different time of the year.
Ammiel
Guest
Bring on more cricket! Though if Bangladesh continue to improve at this rate in 10-15 years time they can potentially be a force.
richo
Guest
mate, no chance. its called the tropics for a reason...on days it doesnt have torrential rain it is unbearably humid and hot. winter is the only time for outdoor sports in FNQ
Bakkies
Guest
The players already are due to overseas tours. SA are playing games at home that time of year as well.
Bakkies
Guest
'I guess instead of playing off-season Cricket, why can’t venues like Darwin or Cairns host a ODI or a T20I during Australian summer?' Wet season?
anon
Guest
That's a great idea. More time to play T20 in the summer. This past summer CA squashed three T20's into the back-end of summer as almost an afterthought even though it's the most popular, best attended, most watched form of the game.
Chris
Guest
Have to be aware that players want a rest. I cant see many wanting to play a full test season, which is long anyways, t20 and then play even more cricket in the off season. More games in the top end is great but maybe an Australia second 11 or even a mixed team. Something thats still interesting and new and gives those in the north something to look forward to but not something that requires players to be away from familys for the entire year.
Niranjan Deodhar
Roar Pro
I guess instead of playing off-season Cricket, why can't venues like Darwin or Cairns host a ODI or a T20I during Australian summer? How is weather at these venues during summer? If its is conducive for cricket, then it would be a great experience to even have a couple of BBL matches scheduled at these venues. This will not only allow the people over there to enjoy live cricket but also eliminate the possibility of playing off-season cricket. Playing off-season cricket will only make the already tight schedule even more tighter and the prospect of only playing small touring teams at these remote venues will hardly boost the progress of these venues in becoming future mainstream venues. So, from my perspective allow these venues to host couple of matches during Australian summer.
Craig Swanson
Guest
Agree. I watched the 2012 U19 WC in Townsville at the Tony Ireland Stadium. A ground that with some more work could develop into a lovely boutique ground for international cricket. Same as the ground at Alice Springs. What a beautiful backdrop with the MacDonnell Ranges.