India is coming, India is coming
By Kersi Meher-Homji
Forget Covid-19. Forget everything unpleasant. The Indian cricket team will be touring Australia in December – January. Yipee!
Do you remember the summer of 2018-19 when the team under Virat Kohli defeated Australia for the first time ever in Australia? Will they do it again with Steve Smith and David Warner back in the Australian team?
Cricket Australia is confident of hosting a safe and successful summer after announcing its 2020-21 men’s and women’s international schedule last night.
The anticipated arrival of superpower India to play the Australian men’s teams across all formats, as also the return of Australia’s all-conquering women’s team, are among the highlights scheduled for this summer.
Kevin Roberts, Cricket Australia CEO, said, “While acknowledging the difficulty in navigating a global pandemic, we are nonetheless encouraged by the progress Australia is making in combatting the coronavirus and the positive impact that is having on our ability to host an exciting summer of cricket in 2020-21.
“We know that circumstances or events beyond our control could mean that the final schedule potentially may look different to the one released today, but we’ll be doing everything we can to get as much international cricket in as possible this summer. We will communicate any changes to the schedule if or when they are required.
“We are working closely with the BCCI to deliver the eagerly anticipated men’s and women’s tours, and we are looking forward to staging the important series against both the men’s and women’s New Zealand sides. These are in addition to the scheduled men’s Test against Afghanistan and a T20 series against West Indies.”
Peter Campbell, Head of Fox Sports, said: “Three T20s, three ODIs, a four-Test Series against India ”“ Smith v Kohli, the two top ranked Test players from two of the top ranked Test Nations head to head on Australian soil. What a Main Event!”
Roberts added, “Cricket Australia made the decision in early March for our men’s team to play New Zealand in an ODI at the SCG in front of no fans due to coronavirus concerns. The experience will no doubt serve us well for planning purposes this summer. We will not rush any decisions however it’s crucial for us all to have a blueprint to work from to deliver cricket safely.
“Australian cricket will survive and thrive after the coronavirus pandemic dissipates, just as we have after world wars, depressions, recessions and the many other challenges that have confronted us over the past 140-plus years.”
2020-21 Men’s and Women’s International Schedule *
(Matches involving India are in red font)
Gillette Men’s ODI Series against Zimbabwe
Australia v Zimbabwe at To be announced (August 9)
Australia v Zimbabwe at TBA (August 12)
Australia v Zimbabwe at Riverway Stadium, Townsville (August 15)
CommBank Women’s T20I Series against New Zealand
Australia v New Zealand at North Sydney Oval, North Sydney (September 27)
Australia v New Zealand at North Sydney Oval, North Sydney (September 29)
Australia v New Zealand at North Sydney Oval, North Sydney (October 1)
CommBank Women’s ODI Series against New Zealand
Australia v New Zealand at Riverway Stadium, Townsville (October 5)
Australia v New Zealand at Cazaly’s Stadium, Cairns (October 7)
Australia v New Zealand at Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast (October 10)
Gillette Men’s T20I Series against West Indies
Australia v West Indies at Riverway Stadium, Townsville (October 4)
Australia v West Indies at Cazaly’s Stadium Cairns (October 6)
Australia v West Indies at Metricon Stadium, Gold Coast (October 9)
Gillette Men’s T20I Series against India
Australia v India at the Gabba, Brisbane (October 11)
Australia v India at Manuka Oval, Canberra (October 14)
Australia v India at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (October 17)
Men’s Test Series against Afghanistan
Standalone Test, Australia v Afghanistan at Perth Stadium, Perth (November 21-25)
Men’s Test Series against India
Australia v India at the Gabba, Brisbane (December 3- 7)
Australia v India at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (December 11 – 15)
Boxing Day Test, Australia v India at the MCG, Melbourne (December 26 – 30)
Pink Test, Australia v India at the SCG, Sydney (January 3 – 7)
CommBank Women’s ODI Series against India
Australia v India at Manuka Oval, Canberra (January 22)
Australia v India at Junction Oval, St Kilda (January 25)
Australia v India at Blundstone Arena, Hobart (January 28)
Gillette Men’s ODI Series against India
Australia v India at Perth Stadium, Perth (January 12)
Australia v India at the MCG, Melbourne (January 15)
Australia v India at the SCG, Sydney (January 17)
Gillette Men’s ODI & T20I Series against New Zealand
Australia v New Zealand ODI at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (January 26)
Australia v New Zealand ODI at Manuka Oval, Canberra (January 29)
Australia v New Zealand ODI at Blundstone Arena, Hobart (January 31)
Australia v New Zealand T20 at the SCG, Sydney (February 2)
*CA reserves the right to change the 2020-21 international cricket schedule.
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