Australia open to idea of playing Ashes with England in India

Team Australia is currently open to the possibility of facing England in a Test match on Indian soil. 

Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg is backing discussions around the idea as part of a broader effort to keep Test cricket relevant and attractive to modern audiences.

Greenberg said the proposal deserves consideration, even though no formal plans are currently in place and any such fixture would require the support of both the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

According to Greenberg, “Our relationship with the ECB, but also the BCCI, is very strong. And clearly, there are opportunities in India to put more content into certain areas. That’s not something we are currently planning, but it would certainly be open for consideration.”

The concept would see one of cricket’s oldest and most celebrated rivalries staged away from its traditional homes. 

Australia and England have contested the Ashes since 1882, with series alternating between the two countries for more than a century. 

The idea comes as cricket administrators continue searching for ways to strengthen the appeal of Test cricket in an increasingly crowded calendar. 

Franchise leagues and limited-overs competitions dominate much of the global schedule, forcing boards to find new ways to attract fans to the five-day game.

India has emerged as a natural venue for such discussions because of its enormous cricket audience and the strong support Test cricket continues to enjoy there. 

A neutral-site match between England and Australia could benefit from attention from fans across South Asia while giving the format a showcase event outside its usual settings.

The chief executive also noted: “I think Test cricket between us, England and India, is still very strong, probably bucking the trend as to other parts of the world. So we want to make sure we continue to grow it and strengthen it.”

Australia and England are already preparing for one such occasion. The two nations will meet in a one-off day-night contest with a pink ball Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in 2027 to mark the 150th anniversary of men’s Test cricket.