Melbourne: Australia's international schedule for home series will stretch into late-March for the first time in 41 years in 2020 after the country's cricket board failed to convince India for an ODI series.
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Cricket Australia was about to host New Zealand in an ODI series in January but Aaron Finch's team will have to travel to the subcontinent after BCCI refused to shift their home series.
As Australia will travel to the subcontinent CA has pushed the three-match ODI series against New Zealand in March. It must be noted that international cricket series in Australia usually last till February, but this will be the only second time Australia will stretch their home series till late March after 1979, with the final ODI in Hobart will take place on March 20.
“CA took the position that while January was our preference for these ODI matches there are times we need to honour our commitments to work in the greater context of international cricket scheduling,” CA’s Peter Roach said.
“We evaluated different options for an alternative and saw the most value in the March opportunity to extend our window in the traditional cricket season.”
Australia will host Sri Lanka for a three-match T20I series in October, which will be followed by another three-match T20I and Test series against Pakistan.
The Asian cricket team will also play a day-night Test against Australia, starting from November 29 at the Adelaide Oval.
In the second week of December, New Zealand will arrive in Australia to play three Test matches.
During the Test series against their Tasmanian neighbour, Australia will host New Zealand for a day-night Test at Perth from December 12, before the three-match series moves to the Melbourne Cricket Ground for the traditional Boxing Day test and to Sydney in the New Year.
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Women’s international cricket will also play a prominent role in the schedule as Australia play a T20 tri-series against England and India from late-January in the leadup to hosting the women’s T20 World Cup from February 21.
Men’s fixtures:
Oct 27 Australia v Sri Lanka, 1st T20 (Adelaide Oval)
Oct 30 Australia v Sri Lanka, 2nd T20 (Gabba)
Nov 1 Australia v Sri Lanka, 3rd T20 (MCG)
Nov 3 Australia v Pakistan, 1st T20 (SCG)
Nov 5 Australia v Pakistan, 2nd T20 (Canberra)
Nov 8 Australia v Pakistan, 3rd T20 (Perth)
Nov 21-25 Australia v Pakistan, 1st test (Gabba)
Nov 29-Dec 3 Australia v Pakistan, 2nd test (Adelaide Oval)*
Dec 12-16 Australia v New Zealand, 1st test (Perth)*
Dec 26-30 Australia v New Zealand, 2nd test (MCG)
Jan 3-7 Australia v New Zealand, 3rd test (SCG)
Mar 13 Australia v New Zealand, 1st ODI (SCG)*
Mar 15 Australia v New Zealand, 2nd ODI (SCG)
Mar 20 Australia v New Zealand, 3rd ODI (Hobart)*
