Top End set to host five-match series between Australia A and Sri Lanka A

Cricket fans in the Top End are in for a treat next month, with a month-long festival of first-class cricket scheduled at Marrara. Details.

Nathan McSweeney will likely be opening the batting for Australia A in the Top End Series this July. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

A month-long cricket feast is on the menu next month with five first class matches taking place at the fields of Marrara.

Ahead of the international T20 matches later this year between Australia and South Africa, Darwin will play host to three white ball and two red ball matches between Australia A and Sri Lanka A.

Scheduled to take place July 4-20, the multi-format series will be a great litmus test for the viability of future international series to take place in the Top End.

The ‘Top End’ A-Series will feature three 50-over matches and two four-day matches, played across DXC Arena and TIO Stadium.

All five matches of the Australia A v Sri Lanka A series will be streamed live on Kayo Sports and cricket.com.au, and fixtures will be free entry and open to the public.

Cricket Australia’s head of cricket operations and scheduling Peter Roach said he was excited to see the return of cricket in Darwin, highlighting the opportunities Darwin produces during the off-season.

Phillip Hughes of Australia A bats during the Quadrangular One Day Series match between Australia A and India A on July 20, 2014 in Darwin, Australia. Picture: Scott Barbour/Getty Images

“It’s fantastic to confirm a multi-format series which provides the next crop of emerging cricketers with excellent development opportunities throughout the Australian winter,” he said.

“Darwin’s dry season weather between the months of May and September offers both the Northern Territory and Australian Cricket an incredible winter opportunity which allows cricket to be played in Australia all-year round.

“Hosting these matches, and especially a match at TIO Stadium, gives significant status to the series ahead of the 2025-26 international season.”

NT Cricket chief executive Gavin Dovey echoed Roach’s comments, saying he believes this series is the perfect foundation for future international and test matches to take place in the Territory.

“This series is another important building block towards our goal of bringing more international cricket to the Northern Territory and unlocking the significant benefits of our winter cricket opportunity,” he said.

“We look forward to hosting Australia A and Sri Lanka A and continuing to showcase the importance of cricket to our increasingly multicultural community and the role the sport can play in rebuilding our economy, driving visitation and growing our population.”

SCHEDULE

Match 1: July 4 – 50-Over (Day/Night) at DXC Arena

Match 2: July 6 – 50-Over at DXC Arena

Match 3: July 9 – 50-Over at DXC Arena

Match 4: July 13-16 – Four-Day at TIO Stadium

Match 5: July 20-23 – Four-Day DXC Arena

Originally published as Top End set to host five-match series between Australia A and Sri Lanka A