Cricket Australia have announced their fixture for the upcoming season which included a total number of seven Tests for the men’s and women’s teams which will be played in all six states and one in the national capital as well.
Along with the five-match Ashes Series, Australia will play a test against Afghanistan in Hobart. While the men’s home series includes ODI and T20 series against New Zealand and a five-match T20I series against Sri Lanka, Australia’s world champion women’s team will begin their journey against India. However, the details of that tour will be announced soon.
However, after playing against India, Meg Lanning-led Australian team will begin their campaign to retain the Ashes, starting with a Test against England at Manuka Oval before the three ODIs and as many T20Is will start as well.
“We would absolutely love for the English fans to come,” CA’s interim Chief Executive Officer Nick Hockley said. “We speak to the Barmy Army a lot and they would absolutely love to be here to support, but I think everyone understands the current situation. It’s pleasing to see the vaccine roll-out in Australia, and it’s also encouraging to see the UK opening up so we just have to watch and hope. But our current thinking is there are likely to be international travel restrictions in place up until the end of the year.”
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As far as the men’s team taking on Afghanisthan, the Test was scheduled for last November but it couldn’t take place due to COVID-19. However, Tim Paine-led Australian team will begin the 2021-22 international season from November 27 at Blundstone Arena as well. However, Afghanistan has played six Tests so far since they have earned the Test status by the ICC in 2018 after registering victories in three of those against Ireland, Bangladesh and Zimbabwe as well.
“We’re thrilled they’re able to come this year,” Hockley said. “It was a huge disappointment they were unable to tour last year. I’ve been speaking to the Afghan ambassador here, and I know the entire Afghan community in Australia is extremely excited so I’m certainly hoping as many of them as possible will be making the trip to Hobart.”
Melbourne and Sydney will host their Boxing Day-New Year Tests while the new Perth Stadium will host the series finale from January 14. Meanwhile, New Zealand will play ODIs in Perth, Hobart and Sydney followed by a T20I at Manuka Oval respectively.
On the other hand, the multi-format women’s Ashes will start with a Test in Canberra from January 27-30 followed by three T20Is at North Sydney and Adelaide Oval and as many ODIs in Adelaide and Junction Oval as well. It is also noteworthy that, Australia’s women’s team is going to play for the first time in Adelaide since 2017 and soon after they will head to New Zealand for the ICC ODI World Cup that was postponed for a year owing to the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe.
“Not even a global pandemic could stop the momentum created by the Australian women’s team after the record-breaking T20 World Cup in 2020,” Hockley said. “Australia’s favourite national sporting team will face off against two of its biggest rivals this summer, including a multi-format Commonwealth Bank Ashes series, and a series against India.
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“A bilateral series against India, an Ashes, a World Cup and a Commonwealth Games (in Birmingham) represents an enormous challenge for the Australians, but Meg Lanning’s squad has proven time and again that they thrive in the most competitive of environments. We are very grateful to the ECB and the BCCI for agreeing to take on the added responsibilities associated with touring during the pandemic and we look forward to competitive and entertaining series against them,” he further added.
Australia Men’s and Women’s International Fixtures for the upcoming season:
Women’s Series v India
Details TBC
Men’s Test v Afghanistan
Nov 27 – Dec 1: Test match, Blundstone Arena
Australia Men’s Ashes v England
Dec 8-12: First Test, The Gabba
Dec 16-20: Second Test, Adelaide Oval
Dec 26-30: Third Test, MCG
Jan 5-9: Fourth Test, SCG
Jan 14-18: Fifth Test, Perth Stadium
Australia Women’s Ashes v England
Jan 27-30: Test match, Manuka Oval
Feb 4: First T20, North Sydney Oval
Feb 6: Second T20, North Sydney Oval
Feb 10: Third T20, Adelaide Oval
Feb 13: First ODI, Adelaide Oval
Feb 16: Second ODI, Junction Oval
Feb 19: Third ODI, Junction Oval
Men’s ODI & T20 Series v New Zealand
Jan 30: First ODI, Perth Stadium
Feb 2: Second ODI, Blundstone Arena
Feb 5: Third ODI, SCG
Feb 8: T20, Manuka Oval
Men’s T20 Series v Sri Lanka
Feb 11: First T20, SCG
Feb 13: Second T20, The Gabba
Feb 15: Third T20, Metricon Stadium
Feb 18: Fourth T20, Adelaide Oval
Feb 20: Fifth T20, MCG
