By Neeraj Nanda
MELBOURNE, 29 October 2020: Diwali, Australia-India men’s series, Xmas, New Year eve and much more will enthrall in the post-COVID-19 scenario. India- Australia exciting Cricket, no doubt, has always been a blockbuster. The eagerly anticipated Vodafone Test series, Dettol ODI Series, and Dettol Twenty20 International Series between the Australian and Indian men’s teams schedule has been confirmed.
The battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will begin with a day-night encounter at the Adelaide Oval on December 17, followed by Tests at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (December 26), the Sydney Cricket Ground (January 7), and the Gabba (January 15).
The Adelaide fixture will be the first day-night Test played between the Australian and Indian men’s teams, adding historic significance to a series between two of cricket’s greatest rivals.
Neither side has lost a day-night Test previously, with the Australian men’s team winning all four twilight Tests in Adelaide against New Zealand, South Africa, England, and Pakistan, and India winning its only encounter at Eden Gardens versus Bangladesh in 2019.
The Australian men’s team is currently ranked No. 1 on the International Cricket Council’s Test standings, however, India will be buoyed by the knowledge it has won three of the previous four series against Australia, including a first-ever series win on Australian soil in 2018-19.
The men’s international summer will commence with the three-match Dettol ODI Series at the Sydney Cricket Ground (November 27, 29) and Manuka Oval, Canberra (December 2). That will be followed by the three-match Dettol T20 International Series at Manuka Oval, Canberra (December 4) and the Sydney Cricket Ground (December 6, 8).
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Both white ball series will be keenly contested. The Australian men’s team is fresh from an away ODI series win over world champions England, while India holds a slight edge over its rival in the 50-over format with a 12-10 win-loss record against Australia over the past five years.
The Australian men’s team is currently ranked No. 1 in the world in the ICC’s T20I rankings and posted a thrilling 2-0 away series win over India last year. India, however, holds a 5-4 win-loss advantage over Australia in its past ten T20I matches.
Nick Hockley, CA’s Interim Chief Executive Officer, thanked the Board of Control for Cricket in India for working constructively with Cricket Australia despite the challenging coronavirus pandemic.
“Across all three formats, Australia and India represents one of the great rivalries in world sport and we are delighted to welcome Virat Kohli’s outstanding squad to Australian shores this summer,” Hockley said.
“We have worked closely with the BCCI for many months to bring this tour to life, and I cannot speak more highly of the professional, thorough and collaborative manner with which they have approached this tour in these extraordinary and complex times.
“I would like to express my gratitude to everyone at the BCCI for the faith and support they have shown in the plan we have developed, which we believe will result in a safe and successful summer for all involved.
“We would also like to especially thank the NSW Government for allowing players from both teams to safely prepare during quarantine, as well as other governments and health authorities who have worked with us to host a series which, I have no doubt, will live long in the memories of all who experience it.
“I would also like to thank everyone across Australian cricket and our valued partners for working tirelessly to navigate through the challenges to deliver a schedule that will bring joy and excitement to hundreds of millions of fans at home and abroad.
“The safety of the Australian community and all participants is our highest priority and we will continue to work with governments across Australia to ensure the schedule proceeds in line with relevant directions and biosecurity protocols. In relation to the Boxing Day Test at the MCG, we are working with the Victorian Government and the Melbourne Cricket Club on plans to safely host spectators at the iconic event with details to be confirmed in due course.”
NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism, and Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres said: “The NSW Government is pleased to support Cricket Australia and ensure that Australians get to see a Summer of cricket.”
NSW Acting Minister for Sport, Geoff Lee said: “We can’t wait to host one of the world’s best teams for a terrific summer of cricket with the SCG ready to host the third test in January. NSW loves its cricket and we are so pleased we could work hand in hand with Cricket Australia to make this series happen.”
In addition to the international fixtures, CA can also confirm dates for tour matches ahead of the Vodafone Test series. India A will take on Australia A at Drummoyne Oval (December 6-8), and India will play Australia A in a day-night match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (December 11-13).
India’s squad will arrive in Sydney on November 12 subject to Australian Border Force travel authorization and the appropriate departure-approvals. The team will quarantine in Sydney prior to the first match of the series on November 27.
Dettol ODI Series v India
First ODI: Friday, November 27 – Sydney Cricket Ground (Day-Night)
Second ODI: Sunday, November 29 – Sydney Cricket Ground (Day-Night)
Third ODI: Wednesday, December 2 – Manuka Oval, Canberra (Day-Night)
Dettol T20 INTL Series v India
First T20: Friday, December 4 – Manuka Oval, Canberra (Night)
Second T20: Sunday, December 6 – Sydney Cricket Ground (Night)
Third T20: Tuesday, December 8 – Sydney Cricket Ground (Night)
Vodafone Test Series v India
First Test: December 17-21 – Adelaide Oval (Day-Night)
Second Test: December 26-30 – Melbourne Cricket Ground
Third Test: January 7-11 – Sydney Cricket Ground
Fourth Test: January 15-19 – The Gabba, Brisbane
Team India’s T20I, ODI and Test squads for Tour of Australia
The All-India Senior Selection Committee met via video-conference on 26 October 2020 to select the Indian Cricket Team for the upcoming Tour of Australia. Team India will take part in three T20Is, three ODIs, and four Test matches against Australia.
Team India T20I squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul (vice-captain and wicket-keeper), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Navdeep Saini, Deepak Chahar, Varun Chakravarthy
Team India ODI squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (vice-captain & wicket-keeper), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Mayank Agarwal, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur
Team India Test squad: Virat Kohli (Captain), Mayank Agarwal, Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vice-captain), Hanuma Vihari, Shubman Gill, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Jasprit Bumrah, Mohd. Shami, Umesh Yadav, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Mohd. Siraj
Four additional bowlers – Kamlesh Nagarkoti, Kartik Tyagi, Ishan Porel and T. Natarajan – will travel with the Indian contingent.
The BCCI Medical Team will continue to monitor the progress of Rohit Sharma and Ishant Sharma, says the BCCI at its site.
*The matches and travel remain subject to any relevant government restrictions or requirements.
