Xtra Time Web Desk: Cricket Australia on Wednesday officially released the dates and venues of the forthcoming India tour Down Under. The full schedule, which begins with limited-overs matches in Sydney and Canberra before the Test Series starts in Adelaide with a first-ever day-night Test between the countries, comes after the NSW government last week approved CA’s strict biosecurity plans that will allow the 32-player India squad and the Australian players returning from the Indian Premier League (IPL 2020) to train while serving their 14-day quarantine period.
The Indian and Australian cricketers will reach Sydney on a chartered flight from Dubai on November 12 and enter hotel quarantine, although the Australian Border Force still needs to approve the travel plans.The Australian IPL contingent and India’s squad, which was named earlier this week, should clear quarantine on November 26 and will play the opening match of the ODI Series at the Sydney Cricket Ground the following day, November 27.
The SCG will also host the second ODI on November 29 before the series moves to Canberra’s Manuka Oval for the third ODI on December 2. All three ODIs will be day-night affairs.
The Canberra venue will then host the opening match of the T20I Series on December 4 before the two sides return to the SCG for two further T20Is, on December 6 and 8. All three T20Is will be played at night.
An Australia A squad will also play two matches against the Indians, with a three-day red-ball game at Drummoyne Oval on December 6-8, followed by a three-day, day-night match with the pink ball at the SCG from December 11-13.
The spotlight will then shift to Adelaide, with a maiden day-night Test between the countries to start the Vodafone Test Series at the Adelaide Oval from December 17. The second test match of the series will be played at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground. The Boxing Day Test has been scheduled for the MCG in a further boost for residents of Melbourne, with the city on Monday recording its first day with zero new cases of COVID19 since July and with state premier Daniel Andrews announcing significant easing of the state’s lockdown conditions.
“In relation to the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, we are working with the Victorian Government and the Melbourne Cricket Club on plans to safely host spectators at the iconic event with details to be confirmed in due course.,” CA’s interim CEO Nick Hockley said in a statement.
The third test match of the series will be held at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Sydney’s annual New Year’s Test will start slightly later than usual, on January 7, to give players additional rest between the second and third matches of the series. The tour will culminate with the fourth and final test match at the Gabba from January 15-19.