Cricket Australia has recently showcased a series of striking images featuring Australia’s captain Alyssa Healy and vice-captain Tahlia McGrath, highlighting their preparation for the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) ahead of the much-anticipated Women’s Ashes Day-Night Test Match. The iconic photos, captured during a special event at the MCG, mark the six-month countdown to this landmark match.
The inaugural day-night Test between Australia and England is set to commence on January 30 and run through February 2, 2025. This historic event will be the first of its kind at the MCG, a venue with a rich cricketing heritage. The Test also coincides with a significant milestone: the 90th anniversary of the first-ever women’s Test match held at the MCG during the Australia-England series in 1934-35.
Alyssa Healy expressed her excitement for the upcoming match, stating, “We can’t wait to play the first-ever day-night Test at the MCG. It’s going to be a special occasion as we honour the 90th anniversary of the first women’s Test series under lights at this iconic venue.”
Healy also highlighted the upcoming summer’s busy schedule, which includes the ICC T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, a white-ball series against New Zealand and India, and the multi-format Ashes series. She encouraged Australian fans to support the team as they face tough rivals.
Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley also shared his enthusiasm for the event, noting the significance of hosting the “brilliant” Australian Women’s team’s first day-night Test at the renowned venue. He expressed his appreciation for the Victorian government and the MCG’s support, emphasizing that this series promises to be a landmark occasion for Australian sport.
MCG CEO Stuart Fox reflected on the venue’s storied history, mentioning that it hosted the first-ever international Test match in 1877, the first One-Day International in 1971, and saw over 86,000 spectators for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Final between Australia and India in 2020.
Fox highlighted that hosting the first-ever day-night Test adds another important chapter to the MCG’s legacy. He also noted the special nature of this milestone, which aligns with the 90th anniversary of the MCG’s first women’s Test match.
With both Healy and McGrath gearing up for this historic match, the anticipation is building as the cricketing world looks forward to the groundbreaking day-night Test at the MCG.
