Australian Cricket schedule revealed for 2019/20 summer
Cricket Australia has announced the fixtures for next summer, featuring a day/night Test Match in Perth and no ODI matches until March.
The first Test Match of the summer returns to the Gabba after the Brisbane venue lost the season opener last year, while the day/night Test will return to the Adelaide Oval after the Indian team refused to play under lights last year. The first two Tests will be played against Pakistan.
Also under lights, for the first time, will be the second ever Test at Optus Stadium, against New Zealand. Last year’s maiden Test at the new 60,000-capacity Perth venue attracted mediocre crowds and it’s hoped playing under lights will boost numbers. The Boxing Day Test and New Year’s Test will also be played against New Zealand.
Despite Australia’s desire to avoid it, a limited-overs tour to India appears likely to be scheduled in January, meaning there’ll be no international cricket played in Australia from the end of the Sydney Test Match until mid-March.
The Sydney Swans are believed to be staggered that Cricket Australia has scheduled two One Day Internationals at the Sydney Cricket Ground in March. Two ODI matches will be played at the SCG on the 13th and 15th, giving ground staff little time to prepare the playing surface for the start of the AFL season. The ground has been under siege as it is, with an increased workload due to the Allianz Stadium rebuild resulting in a poor playing surface.
The T20 Women’s World Cup will be held in Australia in late February and early March with the final at the MCG. The Southern Stars will kick-off the Australian summer of cricket with their first match on September 29 – playing three T20’s and three ODI’s. A tri-series will follow in February.
All domestic fixtures are set to be announced by Cricket Australia at a later date. They are set to include a revamped one-day cup, and a new BBL finals series.
