Cairns and Darwin are set to become Australia's newest Test cricket venues as early as next year.

The Australian Cricket Board is expected to announce winter Test matches for both cities later this week - the first against Bangladesh in July next year. Darwin's Football Park and the Bundaberg Rum Stadium in Cairns will be the venues.

The ACB has been trying to find new venues for Test matches against lower-ranked nations such as Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) requires all Test nations to play each other home and away every five years.

But the already crowded international cricket schedule means winter Test matches are the only realistic option.

That has led to the push to play in the warmer winter climes of northern Australia to allow proper wicket preparation and better weather.

While refusing to confirm Cairns and Darwin as certain to host Test cricket, ACB spokesman Brendan McClements said today it was an option that had been looked at for some time.

"We flagged some time ago venues in northern Australia as potential international cricket venues," he said.

"The season is getting more and more congested with more and more teams to play and especially with the majority of countries in the same hemisphere.

"We've looked and continue to look at them."

Bangladesh's visit to Cairns and Darwin would be followed by Tests and one-day internationals against Zimbabwe in 2004, a World A team in 2005, Sri Lanka in 2006, and Zimbabwe again in 2007.

Each tour would be a minimum of two Tests - one each in Cairns and Darwin - and three one-day matches.

Darwin's Football Park, which has a 15,000 capacity, and the 10,000 capacity Bundaberg Rum Stadium in Cairns would have to be upgraded to meet stringent ICC specifications for Test matches.

The ICC has visited Bundaberg Rum Stadium, while the Northern Territory Government has announced a $2.5 million redevelopment for Football Park.

The upgrade involves improved drainage and lighting, a new scoreboard, and new change rooms and media facilities.

© 2002 AAP