Ashes 2025-26 | CA confirms two-day PM XI warm up fixture ahead of day/night Ashes Test at Gabba

‌The Prime Minister's XI will be playing a two-day pink ball Test match against England at the Manuka Oval in Canberra ahead of the third Test at the historic Gabba Stadium in Brisbane. This is set to be the ninth time the Three Lions participate in the traditional encounter but the first time they will be facing the team in a multi-day game.

Initially started as a charity game in 1951, the Prime Minister's XI game became a regular part of the Australian summer in the mid 1980s and has continued to exist such. However, in 2022, the format was changed to a multi-day affair from a one-day fixture, but had to be reverted back to limited-overs in 2024 when Day 1 of the encounter against India was washed off. Nevertheless, the match played a significant factor in deciding the fate of the series considering Sam Konstas' rapid century for Prime Minsiter's XI helped him earn a call-up to the Test team and eventually proved decisive in the hosts sealing the series. On this occassion, the game is expected to give England some experience with the Pink Kookaburra before the first ever day/night Test at the Gabba.     

“I look forward to meeting with the selectors to finalise a PM's XI squad that showcases the best available talent from across Australia to take on the strong English team," the Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said as quoted by Cricbuzz.

Australia currently hold the Ashes urn, having won at home 4-0 earlier in the decade before managing to draw 2-2 in the latest series in England in 2023.