Sri Lanka, March 12 -- King Charles and global cricket royalty have been invited to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the first Test match in Melbourne, officials said Thursday, with ticket sales through the roof a year before a ball is bowled.

Australia will play England under lights at the Melbourne Cricket Ground to celebrate the landmark from March 11-15 next year.

It will commemorate the first ever Test, played between the two arch-rivals, at the same stadium in 1877.

All members of the Australia and England teams that played in the 1977 Centenary Test -- also at the MCG -- are set to attend.

The late Queen Elizabeth II was at that game and officials are hopeful King Charles will make the trip in 2027.

"We've extended (an invi...