 India and Australia last met in Tests in 2001 |
Australia will begin their home international season earlier than ever before when Zimbabwe begin their tour next October. The two-match series will mark the first time Zimbabwe have played Tests in Australia, 11 years after gaining Test status.
In a fixture list announced by the Australian Cricket Board (ACB) on Wednesday, the normal split of three Tests each for touring side has been scrapped to give India a fourth match. Australia are expected to visit India first, to play a one-day series in November, before the two World Cup finalists do battle Down Under.
After a chaotic international programme in 2002/03, enforced because of the timing of the World Cup, the ACB has reverted to having separate blocks for Tests and one-day internationals.
The baggy greens' first-class programme concludes with the traditional New Year Test in Sydney.
It is the second Test to be held at the SCG, which also hosts Zimbabwe from 17 October.
 Next season's program will provide plenty of exciting international cricket for Australian fans James Sutherland
ACB chief executive |
The one-day VB Series, including all three sides, then occupies most of January. "Our market research tells us that fans prefer the blocked program, and it certainly makes sense from a cricket operations perspective," said ACB chief executive James Sutherland.
"It also allows players at the domestic and international level to focus on one form of the game at a time and gives selectors a clearer picture of players' performances."
Australia have already been forced to extend their season with the visit of Bangladesh, scheduled during the Southern Hemisphere winter in northern cities of Darwin and Cairns.
And Sutherland said the International Cricket Council tour program would make it increasingly important to reciprocate tours by travelling to other countries.
"Nine out of 10 Test nations stage their cricket seasons at the same time of year, so there is an on-going need to share the October to March period," he explained.
Australia fixtures 2003/04 Test series v Zimbabwe
9 - 13 Oct First Test, Perth
17 - 21 Oct Second Test Sydney
November: Triangular one-day series in India (tbc)
Test series v India
4-8 Dec First Test, Brisbane
12-16 Dec Second Test, Adelaide
26-30 Dec Third Test, Melbourne
2-6 Jan Fourth Test, Sydney
VB Series: Australia, Zimbabwe, India
9 Jan Australia v India (D/N), Melbourne
11 Jan Australia v Zimbabwe (D/N), Sydney
14 Jan India v Zimbabwe, Hobart
16 Jan Australia v Zimbabwe, Hobart
18 Jan Australia v India (D/N), Brisbane
20 Jan India v Zimbabwe (D/N), Brisbane
22 Jan Australia v India (D/N), Sydney
24 Jan India v Zimbabwe (D/N), Adelaide
26 Jan Australia v Zimbabwe (D/N), Adelaide
29 Jan Australia v Zimbabwe (D/N), Melbourne
1 Feb Australia v India, Perth
3 Feb India v Zimbabwe (D/N), Perth
6 Feb First final (D/N), Melbourne
8 Feb Second final (D/N), Sydney
10 Feb Third final (D/N) if req, Brisbane
MMIX
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