King Charles Set to Attend Historic 150th Test Match Between England and Australia
King Charles has received an invitation to attend the 150th anniversary Test between England and Australia in Melbourne next year, as confirmed by Cricket Australia chief executive Todd Greenberg. This special one-off match will take place at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, commemorating the first Test ever played in 1877. The significance of this event is underscored by the presence of Queen Elizabeth II, who attended the fifth day of the centenary Test in 1977, also held in Melbourne. In addition to the King, Cricket Australia is extending invitations to every living captain from both nations, male or female, along with any players who participated in the 1977 match. Greenberg expressed the desire to make the occasion a grand celebration of the fierce rivalry between England and Australia, while also honoring the essence of Test cricket. He stated, "We want to make it an occasion that celebrates the combat between England and Australia but more broadly celebrates Test cricket and the beauty of Test cricket," during an interview with Australia's Channel 7. The match is scheduled for 11 March, but it has faced criticism for being a day-night affair. Greenberg emphasized the importance of a long Test match, especially after the recent Boxing Day Test ended in just two days. He mentioned, "I want to make sure we have a long Test match," highlighting ongoing discussions about the state of the wicket. England, having lost the recent Ashes series 4-1, plans to engage in a warm-up match before this landmark Test, with travel to Australia following their two-Test tour of Bangladesh in February. BBC Sport has reached out to Buckingham Palace to confirm whether the King's invitation will be accepted.
Source: BBC Sport - 2026-03-06