Canberra, Gold Coast get international cricket in new-look schedule

James Willoughby
Apr 30, 2018, updated Apr 30, 2018

Canberra's Manuka Oval will become Australia's first new Test match venue in more than 15 years. Photo: Getty

International cricket will run from September to February this summer in a significantly revamped schedule that will include visits from South Africa, India, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

Canberra’s Manuka Oval and the new Perth Stadium will host Test matches for the first time, while the Gold Coast’s Metricon Stadium will host a Twenty20 fixture between Australia and South Africa.

And more gaps in the men’s international schedule – which begins with limited-overs fixtures – will allow some of the game’s Test and one-day international stars to make more appearances in the Big Bash League.

“It’s a summer which will contain plenty of high-quality cricket and some exciting new additions to the Australian cricket calendar,” Cricket Australia chief executive James Sutherland said.

Overall, there are more international matches being played across more locations around the country than in previous years, and we believe this program has something for all cricket fans.”

The women will get things underway, with the first cricket broadcast on both the Seven Network and Foxtel to show Australia taking on New Zealand in a Twenty20 match to be played straight after the AFL Grand Final on September 29.

Meg Lanning’s side play three T20 fixtures against New Zealand in September and October and then three one-day internationals against the same opponents in February and March.

Australia’s men’s team begin a big summer of cricket on November 4 with the first of three one-day internationals against South Africa, followed by the Gold Coast T20 clash.

The limited-overs cricket continues when India play three T20 fixtures in Australia in November, before the first Test between the two nations starts in Adelaide on December 6.

A start time for that clash is yet to be confirmed, with Indian officials reportedly reluctant to agree to a day-night Test.

Tests in Perth (December 14-18), Melbourne (December 26-30) and Sydney (January 3-7) follow, before three one-day internationals against India in January.

These fixtures will help Australia build momentum ahead of the 2019 ICC World Cup, to be staged in England before next year’s Ashes.

And the Tests keep coming, with the ‘Gabba getting a belated match from January 24-28 between Australia and Sri Lanka.

Day-night Tests at the ‘Gabba have proved popular. Photo: Getty

That clash will take in Australia Day and is confirmed as a day-night fixture.

The two-Test tour against Sri Lanka concludes at Manuka Oval in Canberra in a match to be staged from February 1 to 5.

The Big Bash League fixture has not been announced yet, but the schedule has been deliberately created so that many of Australia’s stars will get a chance to turn out for their respective clubs.

Sutherland described that news as a “win for fans”.

Australia will be without the banned Steve Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft for this summer due to the trio’s involvement in the ball-tampering saga that rocked cricket.

Tim Paine will captain a new-look Test side but no announcement has been made on who will captain Australia in the shorter formats yet.