India-Australia Test series expected to start on December 17 in Adelaide

Australia are set to host only India during their upcoming international summer. While the domestic season is set to go as planned amid COVID-19 pandemic, the team’s only Test against Afghanistan and the limited-overs series against New Zealand at home has been postponed due to complexities in scheduling.

However, CA hasn’t compromised on team India’s tour at all with the visiting set to play four Tests, three T20Is and as many One-Day Internationals during their stay down under. The Australian board had earlier announced the schedule stating that the T20I series will commence on October 11 just before the now postponed T20 World Cup. Even the first of the four Tests was to be played from December 3.

However, since the ICC postponed the mega event of the shortest format, the 13th edition of the Indian Premier league (IPL) replaced it in the same window. The cash-rich league will be played until November 10 and CA is now working on rescheduling the dates for whole India tour. ESPNCricinfo, meanwhile, has reported that the first Test is expected to start on December 17 in Adelaide.

Adelaide Oval is one venue which is likely to be preferred during the whole series and possibly the tour as it has attached its own Hotel to it. It will be easy for the board to create a bio-bubble for both the sides and even for the quarantine of the players returning from IPL as well.

Cricket Australia CEO welcomes India for full tour

The venues and the reworked schedule for India tour of Australia is yet to be finalised but CA’s CEO Nick Hockley is excited to welcome the Virat Kohli-led side. He also thanked the partners of the board for understanding their position due to COVID-19 with Afghanistan and New Zealand series being postponed.

“CA looks forward to welcoming the Indian men’s team for a full schedule of matches this summer in what promises to be an incredible contest across all three formats,” he said. Currently, most of the Australian and all Indian players are busy playing the IPL in the UAE. It was also reported earlier that Team India players for Australia tour will directly leave for down under from the UAE itself soon after the IPL.