Tri-series returns to Australia
ESPNcricinfo staff
June 14, 2011
India's visit to Australia in 2011-12 has ushered the return of the limited overs tri-series and the reinstatement of the Australia Day Test match at Adelaide Oval.
The summer from which Cricket Australia makes the lion's share of its total income, via the sale of television rights for the India matches, features two Tests against New Zealand in December, and four against the Indian tourists, starting on Boxing Day at the MCG.
Sydney, Perth and Adelaide will round out the Test summer, before Sri Lanka arrive to be the third team in the revived triangular tournament.
Other notable fixture choices include the Sydney Olympic Stadium's elevation to international status for the first time, to host a Twenty20 international between Australia and India on February 1, while Bellerive Oval will welcome the New Zealand tourists for the second Test of the Tans-Tasman series.
The tri-series, which was last seen in Australia in 2007-08, has been redeployed as a way of providing the requisite number of matches for subcontinental television rights, and pits the world's top three limited overs sides - Australia, the World Cup champion India and the finalist Sri Lanka - against one another.
"ICC Cricket World Cup winner India is also the number one-ranked Test team in the world at the moment," said James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive. "Sri Lanka has also been in great form as we saw in the World Cup, while we know New Zealand is always a formidable opponent that thrives when playing Australia.
"With the commencement of the ICC World Test Championship we know that every Test win is vital and the Australian team will be keen to start the home season positively against New Zealand."
Australia's November series in South Africa and the late arrival of the Indian touring party means the international summer will stretch well into March, again leaving CA to battle with the onset of the football season and its various codes, for crowds and television ratings.
As has become customary, India will have only one tour warm-up match before the first Test, while New Zealand have not been granted any.
2010-11 Australian international summer
Test Series
1 - 5 December Australia v New Zealand Gabba
9 - 13 December Australia v New Zealand Bellerive Oval
26 - 30 December Australia v India MCG
3 - 7 January Australia v India SCG
13 - 17 January Australia v India WACA Ground
24 - 28 January Australia v India Adelaide Oval
Twenty20 Internationals
1 February Australia v India Sydney Olympic Park
3 February Australia v India MCG
Limited Overs Series
5 February Australia v India MCG
8 February India v Sri Lanka WACA Ground
10 February Australia v Sri Lanka WACA Ground
12 February Australia v India Adelaide Oval
14 February India v Sri Lanka Adelaide Oval
17 February Australia v Sri Lanka SCG
19 February Australia v India Gabba
21 February India v Sri Lanka Gabba
24 February Australia v Sri Lanka Bellerive Oval
26 February Australia v India SCG
28 February India v Sri Lanka Bellerive Oval
2 March Australia v Sri Lanka MCG
4 March 1st Final Gabba
6 March 2nd Final Adelaide Oval
8 March 3rd Final Adelaide Oval
Tour matches
18 - 21 December CA Chairman's XI v India Manuka Oval
TBC PM's XI v Sri Lanka Manuka Oval
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