Ashes 2025–26: Australian PM Anthony Albanese hosts Australia and England players in Sydney ahead of final Test

Ahead of the Test Match of the Ashes series; Australian PM Anthony Albanese hosted both the England and Australia cricket teams for a fun evening at Kirribilli House on Thursday 4th January between the matches scheduled from 1st to 2nd December at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The night was part of the annual celebrations for Australia Day that take place every year following Christmas Day events, in this case following the recent Boxing Day Test Match held at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which saw England snap its three-match losing streak after only two days of play between both countries.

Pointing to that outcome, Albanese wryly said the two teams should do everything possible to keep the Sydney Test going until at least Day 3. He stressed the significance of day three – which is widely celebrated and known as Jane McGrath Day. It also promotes awareness of, and raises funds for, the McGrath Foundation to support families experiencing breast cancer. The great Australian pace bowler Glenn McGrath is the man behind it from the time his wife Jane died after a fight with the killer disease.

Anthony Albanese hosts Ashes rivals ahead of Sydney

“Day three in this Test is really important. More than the others,” Albanese was quoted as saying by the Sydney Morning Herald. “So whatever you do, if things are going wrong, just get someone to play out a couple of sessions, because we do want day three.”

Speaking to X later, Albanese said the five-match series was “no ordinary” and suggested that the SCG would be transformed into a “sea of pink” as Australian cricket fans join forces with the Barmy Army to support the foundation’s work. The 90-minute reception, hosted by Albanese and his wife Jodie Haydon, featured players and officials from both countries tucking into the seafood menu. Also on hand for the event was Todd Greenberg and Mike Baird (chief executive and chairman of Cricket Australia, respectively) with Glenn McGrath speaking at the function from the foundation.

Having won three out of the first four matches of an Ashes series, Australia clinched the series. While Australia has enjoyed some success against England on their home soil of late, what Australia accomplished in winning the first three games of this Ashes series was significant stuff given that Josh Hazlewood was not available before the series and they regular skipper Pat Cummins could only feature in the Adelaide test.