In a boost for Kookaburra Victorian Premier Cricket, the Melbourne Cricket Club will host two matches this season at Australia’s premier sporting venue, the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
In a boost for Kookaburra Victorian Premier Cricket, the Melbourne Cricket Club will host two matches this season at Australia’s premier sporting venue, the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
This will be the first-time men’s Premier Cricket has been played at the ground since January 2010, and the first-time ever women’s Premier Cricket has been played on the hallowed turf.
The first of the two matches will take place on Sunday 26 November when Melbourne’s women’s 1st XI will host Box Hill Cricket Club in a One Day game, whilst defending 1st XI premiers Melbourne will play Kingston Hawthorn in a men’s One Day game on Saturday 20 January.
The women’s game will take place the day following the WBBL Melbourne Derby between the Melbourne Stars and the Melbourne Renegades, making it a weekend of women’s cricket at the ‘G.
These matches will be the first women’s cricket games played at the ground since the historic T20 World Cup final between Australia and India where there was a record crowd of 86,174 in attendance.
Cricket Victoria’s General Manager – Premier Cricket Liam Murphy said it’s another great opportunity for Premier Cricketers to play on elite cricket grounds.
“We are thrilled and grateful for Premier Cricket to return to the home of sport in the state, being the Melbourne Cricket Ground.” said Murphy.
“We’re excited to see male and female Victorian Premier Cricketers getting the opportunity to play on such a storied ground,”
“We’d like to thank the MCC for making this possible.”
Chair of MCC Cricket Andrew Kent said he was excited to see Premier Cricket return to the iconic venue.
“Playing on the MCG is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the highest level of club cricket at an iconic venue and it provides players, umpires and officials with an unforgettable experience,” he said.
“The ‘G was the original home of the Club and District (Premier) fixtures that were scheduled here regularly until the 2009/10 season, and we are thrilled to see these matches return to the hallowed turf.
“The Club is also extremely proud to see for the first time in its 185-year history a Premier women’s match played at the ‘G.
“Premier Cricket is a key part of the pathway to playing at the elite level and hopefully these matches give the players involved a taste of what’s to come as they progress in their cricket journeys.”
Premier Cricket matches to be played on the MCG
Sunday 26 November 2023 – Women’s 1st XI One Day game – Melbourne CC v Box Hill CC
Saturday 20 January 2024 – Men’s 1st XI One Day game – Melbourne CC v Kingston Hawthorn CC
Full 2023-24 Kookaburra Victorian Premier Cricket fixtures can be viewed here.
