Australia arrive in the Caribbean on 3 April

Victors Australia have just long enough to parade their newest trophy around the streets of Melbourne and Sydney before they will have to head back to the airport.

Steve Waugh will be back at helm for four Tests in the West Indies, the first of which begins in Georgetown on 10 April.

The men in baggy green will be looking to make amends for one of few blots on their copybook - a tied series the last time they were in the Caribbean in 1999.

The champagne-stained yellow uniforms get their first chance of an airing on 17 May, when the two sides play the first of seven one-day internationals in Kingston.

TEST TOURS IN 2003 April: Australia in West Indies April: New Zealand in Sri Lanka April: South Africa in Bangladesh May: Zimbabwe in England June: Sri Lanka in West Indies July: Bangladesh in Australia June: South Africa in England UK County cricket: Fixture list

A new skipper will lead South Africa as they look to put a World Cup nightmare behind them and "launch a new era".

They have decided it is not safe to take part in the Sharjah Cup, which was also to features Pakistan and Sri Lanka, beginning as soon as Tuesday, 1 April.

But Graeme Smith still has a chance to get his hand in on a two-Test tour of Bangladesh, where the side will also play in a triangular one-day series featuring India.

Next on the fixture list for the new-look side is a tour to England, with five Tests and the annual one-day NatWest Series.

The identity of the third team has yet to be confirmed, with Zimbabwe still considering whether to pull out in retaliation for England's decision not to play their World Cup match in Harare.

Zimbabwe are also pencilled in for two Tests, including the first ever at Durham's home ground of Chester-le-Street on 5 June. Pakistan are favourites to fill in if needed.

ONE-DAY SERIES IN 2003 April: India and SA in Bdesh May: NZ and Pakistan in SL June: Pakistan in England June: Zim and SA in England

Rashid Latif has a chance to get used to his new position as captain, with a trip to Sri Lanka, where New Zealand join them in a one-day series.

The Black Caps play their hosts in two Tests, the first beginning on Colombo on 25 April.

England's cricketers are likely to be given a rest after a non-stop winter.

But many of their county colleagues will be in action on 12 April, when the first-class season begins with a round of university matches.

County-by-county: English fixtures

The County Championship begins the following week, with Surrey keen to capture their fourth title in five years.

Few counties can be sure of hanging onto their overseas players throughout the summer, though, as the international calendar continues unabated.

West Indies stay in one-day mode, with a three-match series against Sri Lanka following directly after Australia's departure.

And perhaps the most one-sided contest in Test history is in prospect when Australia host Bangladesh in the northern cities of Cairns and Darwin in July.

Maybe then Australia will be able to pause for breath.