The historic 150th anniversary Test at the MCG next March will be a day-night match, with crowds of more than 90,000 expected during the opening three days.

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Cricket Australia (CA) has confirmed that a pink-ball Test is still expected to be part of the men’s Ashes series in 2029–30, despite recent reports suggesting the traditional day-night fixture might be dropped. The governing body stated that staging at least one pink-ball Test each summer remains part of its long-term plan.

CA’s current broadcast agreement, which runs until 2031, includes a commitment to host one day-night Test per season. These matches have consistently delivered strong television viewership and fan engagement, making them a key feature of Australia’s home summer schedule.

During the most recent Ashes series in Australia, the day-night Test took place in Brisbane, where the hosts secured an eight-wicket victory. Overall, England have played four pink-ball Tests in Australia and have lost all of them by considerable margins. Despite this record, the format continues to attract strong interest from broadcasters and fans.

England batter Joe Root previously questioned whether day-night Tests are necessary in an Ashes series, given the competition already generates enormous attention. However, CA chief executive Todd Greenberg confirmed that there has been no formal request from England to remove the format from future tours.

Speaking to SEN radio, Greenberg explained that the day-night Test remains an important part of Australia’s cricket calendar. He said the format has proven successful in venues such as Adelaide and Brisbane and will likely continue to feature once per summer.

“We’ve shown it works in Adelaide and it certainly worked last year in Brisbane,” Greenberg said. “It’s clearly a big part of our summer and our broadcast contracts. Our expectation is that England will play a pink-ball Test when they tour in 2029.”

Greenberg also highlighted that CA is willing to work closely with the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) to help England better prepare for the format. This could include additional practice matches or training opportunities before a day-night Ashes Test.

The discussion around pink-ball cricket comes as Australia prepares to host a historic milestone match next year. The 150th anniversary Test between Australia national cricket team and England cricket team will be played as a day-night contest at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in March.

Cricket Australia has already seen huge demand for tickets, launching its first-ever ballot system for the occasion. Officials expect crowds exceeding 90,000 across at least the first three days of the match. Remaining public tickets for days three and four recently went on sale.

Although some critics believe a historic commemorative Test should be played with the traditional red ball, Greenberg insists the pink-ball format will not diminish the significance of the event. Instead, he believes it reflects how the game continues to evolve.

He also noted that the day-night schedule allows better broadcast times for audiences in the United Kingdom, while making it easier for families and school children in Australia to attend evening sessions.

The match will celebrate 150 years of Test cricket between the two nations, and CA plans to invite every living player who participated in the 1977 Centenary Test, along with former captains from both sides and members of the Australian Cricket Hall of Fame.

An invitation has also been extended to King Charles III to attend the anniversary match. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, famously visited the Centenary Test in 1977. However, organisers are considering scheduling any royal appearance earlier in the match rather than waiting until the final day, given the unpredictability of modern Test results.

With strong ticket sales and broadcast interest, Cricket Australia remains confident that pink-ball Tests will continue to play a significant role in future Ashes series and the broader Test cricket landscape.