The Northern Territory emerged as the big winner of the Cricket Australia's summer schedule on Sunday, slated to host its first white-ball internationals since 2008.
But there is already the prospect of bigger fixtures on the horizon, as officials take an eye towards the 2026-27 season.
Australia are expected to host Bangladesh in two Tests in August 2026, in what looms as the first winter Tests in the country since 2004.
A North Queensland venue is expected to hold at least one of those, given the Gabba won't host during the shortened four-Test summer against New Zealand in 2026-27.
That would likely come in the form of Cairns, Townsville or Mackay, with only the former having hosted men's Test cricket before.
Darwin would then be the other option for one of the Tests, if Cricket Australia do take a game in the two-match series outside of Queensland.
It's believed an Australia A match against Sri Lanka A is likely to held in Darwin this July, giving officials a chance to judge how TIO Stadium works for a red-ball match.
That fixture will be the maiden first-class fixture played at the venue since 2006, in a mega boost for the Northern Territory's hopes of hosting a Test match again.
Cairns and Darwin both hosted men's Test matches in 2003 and 2004, when Australia hosted Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
"There are currently two Test matches that have not been allocated venues in August 2026," Cricket Australia's head of scheduling Peter Roach told AAP.
"Venues capable of hosting Test matches at that time of the calendar include Darwin and our three northern Queensland venues.
"CA will make a decision on allocation later this year."
It's also expected Cricket Australia will push to have more home white-ball matches scheduled for August in the future ICC schedules.
White-ball games in the top end of the country work for officials in that it is the clearest window in the global calendar, while also not clashing with the BBL.
After Australia play two T20s against South Africa in Darwin on August 10 and 12 of this year, a T20 and ODI will be played in Cairns before two more ODIs in Mackay.
The northern venues are known to be keen to host international cricket more regularly, rather than having one-off matches at their venues.
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