Cricket Australia (CA) on Wednesday announced schedule for five-Test Ashes series which will begin on December 8 in Brisbane and prior to that, they will play Afghanistan for the first time in Test cricket in a one-off Test at Bellerive Oval in Hobart from November 27.
As per the schedule, the Australian summer will comprise nine ODIs and T20 matches against New Zealand and Sri Lanka, while the Australian women’s team will host India at the start of the summer.
“The Australian men’s team will begin its Ashes series defence at the Gabba from December 8-12 ahead of a day-night Test at the Adelaide Oval from December 16-20. The traditional Boxing Day and New Years’ Tests will be played at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (December 26-30) and Sydney Cricket Ground (January 5-9) respectively, with the final Test scheduled for Perth’s Optus Stadium (January 14-18),” CA said in a statement.
“Preceding the Ashes will be a historic first Test match against the Afghanistan men’s team at Blundstone Arena (Bellerive Oval) on November 27,” added the statement.
“The conclusion of the men’s Test program will usher in the arrival of the New Zealand and Sri Lankan white ball squads, who will play a combined three ODIs and six T20Is against Australia as teams finalise their preparation for the coveted ICC T20 World Cup in Australia, scheduled to begin in October, 2022,” it said further.
Australian summer schedule
One-off Test versus Afghanistan: Nov 27 – Dec 1: Bellerive Oval, Hobart
Ashes series
1st Test: Dec 8 – Dec 12: Gabba
2nd Test: Dec 16 – Dec 20: Adelaide Oval (D/N)
3rd Test: Dec 26 – Dec 30: Melbourne
4th Test: Jan 5 – Jan 9: Sydney
5th Test: Jan 14 – Jan 18: Perth