Cricket Australia has released the schedule for the upcoming summer of cricket that will feature India and Sri Lanka in the men’s and South Africa in the women’s.
The biggest change to the fixturing is a fortnight gap scheduled in the middle of February that will allow the best players in the country to play in the final few rounds of the Big Bash League and Women's Big Bash League.
One of the recurring issues with the BBL has been the lack of availability for big-name players come the business end of the season and this fortnight gap allows for the competition to maintain its momentum.
With Channel 7 set to broadcast the cricket for the first time this coming summer, Cricket Australia will face India in four tests, including Boxing Day and the New Year’s test.
A second test series against Sri Lanka is scheduled for the new year with two matches scheduled for the Gabba and Canberra.
The summer will also feature three international T20 matches and three ODI’s, reduced from five this summer.
Here’s the full schedule:
Gillette Series v South Africa
Tour match: PM's XI v South Africa, Manuka Oval, Canberra, October 31
First ODI: Perth Stadium, November 4
Second ODI: Adelaide Oval, November 9
Third ODI: Blundstone Arena, Hobart, November 11
Only T20: Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast, November 17
India Men's tour of Australia
First T20: Gabba, November 21
Second T20: MCG, November 23
Third T20: SCG, November 25
First Test: Adelaide Oval, December 6-10
Second Test: Perth Stadium, December 14-18
Third Test: MCG, December 26-30
Fourth Test: SCG, January 3-7
First ODI: SCG, January 12
Second ODI: Adelaide Oval, January 15
Third ODI: MCG, January 18
Sri Lanka Men's tour of Australia
First Test: Gabba, January 24-28 (D/N)
Second Test: Manuka Oval, February 1-5