Business · Companies · 23 hrs ago
Cricket Australia reports $20m hit from two-day Ashes Tests as losses loom
Two Ashes Tests that lasted only two days cost Cricket Australia about A$20m in revenue last summer.
The short matches were played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground and in Perth, with the Perth Test causing an even larger shortfall than first expected.
Cricket Australia still posted record revenue of A$601.1m and a net surplus of A$81.8m for the 2025-26 financial year.
Strong income from the Ashes, a series against India, ticket sales and commercial deals helped offset the lost revenue.
The governing body expects losses in 2026-27 and 2027-28 as the touring schedule brings less media and match revenue.
It is seeking private investment in Big Bash League franchises, starting with the Melbourne Renegades, and is also discussing changes to its financial arrangements with state bodies.
Cricket Australia says it will focus on keeping costs down and building the Big Bash’s audience and revenue.
Cricket Australia reported record revenue of A$601.1 million for the 2025-26 financial year.
It recorded a net surplus of A$81.8 million, compared with a loss of A$11.3 million in 2024-25.
Media rights, commercial income and match-day revenue from the men’s Ashes and a limited-overs series against India contributed to the result.
Two two-day Ashes Tests cost the organisation about A$20 million in revenue, according to its chief executive.
Cricket Australia forecast losses for the 2026-27 and 2027-28 financial years.
- Who
- Cricket Australia, the governing body of cricket in Australia.
- What
- It reported record revenue of A$601.1 million and a net surplus of A$81.8 million for 2025-26.
- When
- The result was announced on Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026, for the 2025-26 financial year.
- Where
- Australia.
- Why
- Strong media rights, commercial and match-day revenue associated with the Ashes and a limited-overs series against India contributed to the result.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Cricket Australia recorded a net loss of A$11.3 million.
Australia won the ODI series against India 2–1, while India won the T20 series 2–1.
Cricket Australia reported record revenue of A$601.1 million and a net surplus of A$81.8 million.
Cricket Australia announced its financial results and forecast losses for the next two financial years.
- Revenue
- A$601.1 million in 2025-26
- Net surplus
- A$81.8 million in 2025-26
- Previous-year result
- A$11.3 million net loss in 2024-25
- Ashes attendance
- 859,580 spectators over 18 days; average 47,754
- Forecast losses
- 2026-27 and 2027-28 financial years
3 sources
What people are saying
That’s a pretty solid outcome given the fact that we have two two-day Test matches, but we’ve over-achieved in some other areas like non-broadcast revenue, our sponsorship program outperformed, some of our other revenue lines outperformed, so we were able to make up the difference.
We’ve had a record Ashes crowd at the MCG, 94,000, only going two days there.
We want to get to a position where we’re sustainable.