IND vs AUS: Cricket Australia has unveiled its landmark 2026-27 home schedule. The side opens with a two-match Test series against Bangladesh in August, then faces England at the MCG next year to celebrate the 150th anniversary of their rivalry. Later, Australia plays a four-Test series against New Zealand in December.

This seven-month schedule from August to March will be a test of endurance for the Pat Cummins-led side. However, their biggest challenge is the five-match Test series against India in India next year. Australia hasn't won a Test series there since 2004-05.

“There was also a hard stop on Australia’s Test summer after the traditional New Year's match in Sydney, as the five-Test tour of India is expected to begin around a fortnight later—likely in mid- or late-January. The BCCI is yet to confirm the detailed schedule. That Border-Gavaskar Trophy tour, a final frontier for the likes of Cummins, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, and Nathan Lyon, who have never won a series in India, will be a quick-fire campaign since CA’s anniversary Test is scheduled at Melbourne on March 11," a statement released by Cricket Australia said.

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The statement added that the grueling schedule will prevent Test stars from participating in the summer’s KFC BBL.

Fast bowlers need special care!

Australia's pace trio—Mitchell Starc (Delhi Capitals), Josh Hazlewood (Royal Challengers Bengaluru), and Pat Cummins (Sunrisers Hyderabad)—will miss the start of IPL 2026 to recover from injuries. Cricket Australia stressed that head coach Andrew McDonald and chief selector George Bailey are focused on managing the pacers’ workload.

Starc, 36, played all five Ashes Tests last summer, showing remarkable durability, as did Scott Boland, 37, next month. Michael Neser, who turns 36 next week, also had a standout campaign, the statement added.

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Cummins, 32, has played just one match in nine months—securing the urn-clinching win in Adelaide in December—while Hazlewood, 35, has not played since November.

Lyon, 38, is recovering from his second major soft-tissue injury in two-and-a-half years. There may be room for only one or two quicks in India on spin-friendly pitches, making Lyon’s role vital, the statement concluded.

Australia's 2026/27 Test schedule:

August: Two Tests v Bangladesh (home)

October: Three Tests v South Africa (away)

December-January: Four Tests v New Zealand (home)

January-March: Five Tests v India (away, starting mid- to late January)

March 11-15: 150th anniversary Test v England (home)