The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) announced that Bangladesh's tour has been scheduled for July and August 2003, and will be held entirely in the two cities.

There are currently just six Test grounds in Australia. Tasmanian city Hobart joined Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney in 1989.

"With the international cricketing calendar becoming increasingly congested, the ACB has been searching for suitable facilities in Northern Australia," said ACB chief executive James Sutherland.

"With the works that are now committed to bring these grounds up to international standard the ACB is confident that they will meet ICC specifications."

Test captain Steve Waugh welcomed the opportunity to take the Australian team north.

"The team hasn't played in this part of the country before and it will be a great opportunity to take cricket up to Northern Australia where I know there is a lot of support for the Australian team," he said.

Exact dates are still to be finalised but the ACB confirmed that Darwin will host the first Test in early to mid-July before the teams move to Cairns for the second Test and the first two, day/night, one-day internationals.

The one-day international series will then return to Darwin for the final match, which will be a day game.

Balancing act

As well as expanding the reach of the international game within Australia, the Board is keen to maintain regular fixtures against traditional rivals while keeping commitments to the ICC's new tours programme.

The ICC now requires each Test nation to play each other in at least two Tests at home and away every five years.

But Australia has yet to host Zimbabwe in a Test, even though the African nation gained Test status 10 year ago, while England, India, West Indies and South Africa tour every four years.

Australia played an international one-day series during their winter against South Africa in 2000, at the indoor Melbourne Colonial Stadium.

And this August sees two indoor matches against Pakistan before the two sides move to Brisbane's Gabba ground.