Unusual home schedule announced

Australia’s home season will have an unusual shape and finish later than usual next summer as a result of the inaugural Twenty20 Championships, which delay Pakistan’s tour of India to November.

While that series is on Australia will play host to Sri Lanka, with two Tests in November in Brisbane and Hobart. After that Twenty20 will have its Melbourne debut on December 11 before the annual Chappell-Hadlee Trophy clash against New Zealand in Adelaide, Sydney and Hobart on December 14, 16 and 20.

Following that hectic pre-Christmas schedule, the unusual sight of the Boxing Day Test being the first in a series will provide an exciting opening to the four-match series against India before Tests in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide. Despite the large number of changes from the normal structure, we will also see somewhat of a return to tradition with Australia Day falling during the Adelaide Test for the first time in some years.

The one thing obviously missing from the schedule so far is the yearly triangular tournament, which this time will take place after the India series, with the first match on February 3, and run into early March.

Among the most interesting things in the schedule for the triangular tournament is one of the matches being played in the Australian capital. Canberra will host the match between Sri Lanka and India on February 12.