Australia has many great cricket stadiums, where international matches are played regularly. But Marrara Oval, located in the city of Darwin, now known as TIO Stadium, has been waiting to host any international cricket match for the last 17 years. No international match has been played in this stadium since 2008. However, now the fortunes of this stadium are going to change and the long wait of 17 years is about to end.
International match will be played in August 2025
Cricket Australia has chosen Darwin to host T20 International (T20I) matches against South Africa in 2025. A series of three T20 and three ODI matches will be played between Australia and South Africa in August 2025. According to Cricket Australia’s plan, the first two T20 International matches of this series will be played in Darwin. After this, one T20 and one ODI match will be held in Cairns, while the last two ODI matches will be held in Mackay.
Will the 17 year wait end?
However, the full schedule of this series has not been decided yet and the deal for the matches to be held at TIO Stadium is yet to be finalized. But if it gets the green signal, it will be a big achievement for Darwin’s cricket stadium. Let us tell you that the last time two ODIs were played in Darwin was in 2008, when an ODI series was held between Australia and Bangladesh. Since then, Darwin has not hosted any senior international cricket match.
CEO of NT Cricket expressed hope
Northern Territory Cricket (NT Cricket) CEO Gavin Dovey told AAP that he is committed to bringing international cricket back to the Northern Territory since taking office in 2023. He said, “The last time we hosted international cricket was in 2008 and it has been a very long time. We hope that Cricket Australia will finalize our hosting and we will be able to bring international cricket to Darwin again.”
Why did Darwin not become a major cricket venue?
In Australia, big cricket stadiums like Melbourne (MCG), Sydney (SCG), Brisbane (Gabba) and Adelaide (Adelaide Oval) regularly host international matches. But cricket could not expand in Darwin. The main reason for this is that the popularity of cricket in the Northern Territory is less than in other states.
Apart from this, weather conditions have also been a big reason. Darwin’s weather is hot and humid, which makes it challenging to organize sports here. Due to rain and humidity, the quality of the ground is also affected.
Growing interest in cricket in Darwin
However, in the past few years NT Cricket has tried to promote cricket locally. It has attracted the attention of Cricket Australia by organising local cricket leagues and domestic tournaments.
NT Cricket believes that if Darwin gets the opportunity to host international cricket matches once again, it will help increase the popularity of cricket in the region. This will not only inspire local players but will also help establish Darwin as a new cricket venue.
An exciting series is expected between Australia and South Africa
If Cricket Australia confirms to hold the match in Darwin, then an exciting series can be seen between Australia and South Africa in 2025. South Africa’s team is known for strong fast bowlers and aggressive batsmen, while Australia with its balanced team always proves to be dangerous in home conditions.
The growing excitement of T20 cricket
The TIO Stadium in Darwin has been waiting to host any international cricket match for 17 years. According to Cricket Australia’s plan, two T20 matches against South Africa can be played here in 2025. If this plan is successful,
Although there is no official announcement yet, NT Cricket officials are optimistic about the event. If Darwin gets the match, it will not only boost local cricket but will also help establish the Northern Territory as a major cricket venue.
