Australia to play England in historical pink-ball clash in next year's Ashes contest

Published - 13 Dec 2016, 12:14 IST | Updated - 13 Dec 2016, 12:14 IST

3 Min Read

Cricket Australia today announced the full schedule for the national men’s team next domestic summer. The packed schedule includes five Ashes Tests against England, five ODIs and a seven-match Trans-Tasman T20 International tri-series featuring Australia, England and New Zealand.

Day – Night Test, more famously known as the Pink ball Test is also set to make its debut in the battle for cricket’s oldest and most prestigious Test match trophy. The historic fixture, however, has been moved out from the SCG and has been scheduled at the Adelaide Oval. The previous two Pink ball Tests hosted in Australia featuring the homes side with New Zealand in 2015 and later South Africa last in November took place in Sydney.

The huge summer schedule will see international cricket return to its traditional starting venue – the Gabba in Brisbane – for the first Ashes Test from November 23. While the entire fixtures between Australia and England will be hosted in Australia. A part of the Trans-Tasman T20 series along with the final of the tri-series (to held in Auckland) will be in New Zealand, providing the end point to the international season on February 21, before the Australia Test squad heads to South Africa to begin a campaign there. The schedule’s at the bottom of the piece.

The schedule also provides Test team prospect from the domestic circuit to place their contention for the national team and have more red more practice as it allows full three rounds of the Sheffield Shield competition to take place. One of the items identified for Australia’s poor showing in the first two Tests of the current summer against South Africa was the limited first-class preparation afforded to international players, largely because of the early starting date of the first Test in Perth (November 3).

The third Ashes Test will be held in Perth, at either the WACA Ground or the new Perth Stadium if it is completed in time, from December 14. Cricket Australia chief executive officer James Sutherland said the governing body was excited to announce the inaugural Ashes Test under lights.

“We recognize how big the Ashes is for both home and traveling fans, and the early announcement of the schedule for this series will allow fans here in Australia and abroad to plan their Ashes summer,” Sutherland said in a statement.

“This schedule will allow for at least three Sheffield Shield matches to be completed as preparation prior to the first Ashes Test in Brisbane.

“The decision to start the international season in Brisbane, then moving to Adelaide, allows us to give Perth Stadium the best chance to host the Test match, so we can welcome an even bigger crowd to Perth next summer.

“We’re really excited to announce that Adelaide will play host to the first ever Day-Night Ashes Test. We know how much Adelaide fans love this style of Test cricket. We’re expecting a full house next year in what is sure to be a great contest.”

The Chappell-Hadlee series will not be contested next season, due to the Ashes Series and T20 International tri-series. The trans-Tasman One Day International series will resume the following season.