No Top End Tours For Two Years

Cricket Australia officials have revealed that the Australian team will not participate in any games in Cairns or Darwin in the next two years. This is due to Australia’s commitment to retaining the Ashes in England in 2005 and scheduled tours in 2006.

"Cricket Australia is committed to fulfilling its obligations under the International Cricket Council's Future Tours Program, which includes an Ashes Series in England next year and a full schedule of international cricket outside Australia in 2006" said James Sutherland, chief executive officer of Cricket Australia.

After hosting test matches against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka in the past two seasons with reasonable success, Cricket Australia has decided to schedule more top end tours for Cairns and Darwin. Zimbabwe and Bangladesh are both due to tour Australia in 2007 and 2008 and it was decided that they would host those series. However, all is not certain, Zimbabwe’s test status is under scrutiny, having already missed recent series against Australia, England and Pakistan due to allegations of racially biased selection.

The prospect of international cricket being played in the top end during the next two years is still open “we’re investigating all other options available to us, including a possible A-series tournament in 2006”


Posted by Alex