Two years of COVID postponements and a Twenty20 World Cup have handed Australia’s cricketers the busiest summer in the country’s history.
Cricket Australia confirmed a cluttered schedule on Monday, with a whopping 27 men’s fixtures beginning with the first Top End-tour since 2008 in August and September.
West Indies and South Africa will visit for Test series, while the former will join New Zealand and Zimbabwe in playing catch-up white-ball series before the home T20 World Cup that was originally slated for 2020.
Early-season cricket will be played in Townsville and Cairns against Zimbabwe and New Zealand respectively, before Australia leave for a three-match Twenty20 series in India.
West Indies and England then play white-ball series either side of the October-November Twenty20 World Cup, with the English to be coached by Australia’s former women’s mentor Matthew Mott.
Notably, the Test summer begins in Perth on November 30 against West Indies, before a pink-ball Test in Adelaide from December 8.
Brisbane hosts the first Test against South Africa on December 17, before Melbourne and Sydney hold the traditional Boxing Day and New Years’ Tests.
The schedule makes for a shift away from the Gabba hosting the first Test of the summer, but means the first two Tests are beamed into the east coast in prime-time before the Christmas period begins.
“We are hosting a record six touring nations to Australia this season, in addition to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup,” CA CEO Nick Hockley said.
“We are delighted that Test cricket is coming back to Perth Stadium for the first Test of the summer versus the West Indies, after almost three years without international cricket.
“And we look forward to hosting South Africa over Boxing Day and New Year for the first time since 2008.”
The figure of 27 matches for the men does not include any T20 World Cup warm-up fixtures, or finals games if the defending champions qualify.
The summer therefore easily tops the previous record of 24 matches in 2014-15, which also included a home World Cup in the one-day format.
It also comes as part of an extremely busy 12 months for the team, with a four-Test series in India in February and March, an away Ashes next winter, a tour of South Africa and a one-day World Cup in October and November.
The one sticking point of Australia’s home summer remains a three-match one-day series against South Africa between January 12 and 17, at a time CA had hoped to have all white-ball stars playing Big Bash.
South Africa have also requested to move the series, but no other window can be found and all ICC ODI Super League fixtures must be completed before April.
Instead, CA have scheduled the games to start earlier to allow BBL matches to follow at night.
Meanwhile, Australia’s women play three ODIs and T20s against Pakistan in January, with no Test on the agenda.
They will also tour India for five T20s in December, ahead of the short-form World Cup in South Africa in February.
Nick
Roar Guru
Finnair on the Asian sectors, they're number one. SQ and China eastern taking the other podium places.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
SQ have the prettiest hostesses. I will always go with SQ wherever they fly. No only are they the prettiest but they are so helpful and kind. ——- I could marry one within 15 seconds of meeting her. ——- I’m getting better to be thinking that way.
Keith Griffen
Guest
Windies get a test in Perth. Doesn’t make sense from a marketing point of view of CA. Perth is effectively a home game for SA given the number of expats and SAs record there. The Windies game could be over in 2 days.
Keith Griffen
Guest
Noticed that SA v AUS test series has no matches scheduled in Perth? Must be a reason, as in 5 series since 2001, Aust only won once, with one draw. Looks like they’re trying to nullify Rabada and co.
Keith Griffen
Guest
A true cricket fest. Can’t wait. Hoping windies can be competitive. Also hoping SA can regain their undefeated streak…gonna be a cracker of series.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
They were usually 2nd in the Ashes and other 5 Test series, eg vs Windies in the 70s.
Rob Peters
Guest
I understand that people are now complaining that Perth is getting the 1st test of the summer instead of the Gabba. Why? I remember the WACA used to get the 1st test up until the mid 1980s.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Haha sounds like the perfect winter meal :thumbup:
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Just ah lightly roasted in a nice spicy source with a glass of merlot or cabernet ...
Nick
Roar Guru
I know the one. It is good. I'm a Kailash fan myself but it's all gravy in little India
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Good point. Maybe they struck a deal to give some of the gate takings to Saffie ruling body. Sydney too.
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Cool. That’s the airline my wife used to go home (to Indonesia) for three months recently. Last time I was in Singapore was early 2020 was also first time I had stayed overnight there sine 2001, and only 6th night ever. Ate at the most unbelievable restaurant in Little India called Al Khalifa.
Marcus
Guest
Boxing Day in Australia is worth more money than in SA.
Nick
Roar Guru
Singapore. Singapore Airlines
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Once do you like pigeon racing :stoked:
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Which country are you in? And what does SQ stand for?
Tony
Roar Guru
And nor should we
Tony
Roar Guru
Get a room
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
Geeze Jezze ... you were supposed to say "Oh God, I so miss Bill and Tony in commentary" ...
Choppy Zezers
Roar Rookie
Ahem I prefer Dennis Lillee and Javed Miandad to, ahem, some minnow leading South African