Melbourne: Cricket Australia (CA) confirmed Monday that Adelaide Oval will be the venue for the series-opening Test against India, but has yet to strike an agreement with the Indian board (BCCI) on staging the match under lights.
CA said it was continuing discussions with the BCCI with a view to playing their first day-night Test in Adelaide from December 6-10. “It is our preference that we play India in a day-night Test match in Adelaide, but we are still working through this detail and hope to have an answer on this in the coming weeks,” CA CEO James Sutherland said in a media release.
Australia have hosted New Zealand, South Africa and England in day-night Tests at Adelaide Oval, winning all three of the pink ball matches. India have never played a floodlit match. Australia and India play their second Test at the new Perth Stadium in Burswood, across the Swan river from the city’s traditional Test venue, the WACA.
India’s tour will kick off with a three-match Twenty20 international series in November after Australia start the home summer with four limited overs matches against South Africa. The hosts will also play India in three ODIs in January.
The schedule, which will see Test cricket played in February for the first time in over 20 years, has been structured to avoid clashing with the domestic ‘Big Bash’ T20 competition, which has proved a bigger drawcard for local fans than some Test matches in recent seasons.
Fixtures
T20Is
November 21: Brisbane
November 23: Melbourne
November 25: Sydney
Tests
December 6-10: Adelaide
December 14-18: Perth
December 26-30: Melbourne
January 3-7: Sydney
ODIs
January 12: Sydney
January 15: Adelaide
January 18: Melbourne