Perth's impressive sporting calendar between the months of June and December has been bolstered by news that the Indian men's cricket team will play Australia on October 19 at Optus Stadium.
The match, part of a three-game one-day international series, will be a day-night fixture. It also now provides a quality lead up to the opening of the 2025-26 Ashes Test series between Australia and England, which will be held between November 21 and 25 at the same venue.
In March next year, the Australia women’s team will play India at the WA Cricket Association Ground, which will be the first day-night Test at the iconic venue following the completion of the $168.9 million WACA ground improvement project.
“WA is the place to be for cricket this summer,” Sport and Recreation Minister Rita Saffioti said.
“We saw the incredible success of last year’s West Test and the record-breaking attendance at Perth Stadium to see Australia’s men’s cricket team take on India, so the opening ODI of a three-match series against India is a fantastic way to kick off.
“Of course, this is a precursor to the massive Ashes series between Australia and England – cricket’s oldest rivalry – which will attract thousands of fans locally and from across the world, plus millions more who will tune in.”
Perth’s smorgasbord of sport will hit full stride in June, with the Socceroos taking on Japan in a 2026 World Cup qualifier at Optus Stadium.
Should Tony Popovic’s men defeat the already qualified Samurai Blue, they would directly qualify should Saudi Arabia not be able to defeat Bahrain.
Later in that month at Optus Stadium, State of Origin rugby league action between Queensland and New South Wales, along with an international match between the Western Force and British and Irish Lions will also take centre stage.
In October, Australia will also do battle with New Zealand in a Bledisloe Cup Test.
The state government is confident all of these events will not only inject millions of dollars into the state’s economy courtesy of visitor spend, but also increase out-of-state visitation numbers.
