Australia and the West Indies lock in eight-game schedule in June-July

Australia has confirmed its busy schedule for the West Indies later this year and it includes a world first for the tourists.

The jam-packed itinerary for Australia’s first tour of the West Indies in a decade has been finalised and it includes a world first for the Aussies.

The month-long tour of the West Indies includes three Test matches and five Twenty20s.

The first Test on June 25 follows Australia’s date with South Africa in the World Test Championship final at Lords just 10 days earlier.

It’s the first time the Frank Worrell Trophy is up for grabs in the Caribbean since 2015 and will kick-start the next World Test Championship cycle.

The opening Test in Barbados will be the first encounter since the West Indies’ famous Shamar Joseph-led victory in the day-night Test match at the Gabba in 2024.

The Aussies will then travel to Grenada where they have never played Test match cricket.

If Mitchell Starc is to play each of the Tests, the third and final will be his 100th match.

If Mitchell Starc plays every Test between now and the third Test, his 100th match will be played in the West Indies. Picture: Izhar Khan / AFP

Starc has played 95 Tests and is set to enter the series on 97 after playing in Galle and the WTC final.

The Test matches are swiftly followed by a five-match Twenty20 series played over eight days.

The first two matches will be in Jamaica before the final three in St Kitts.

Australia has held the Frank Worrell Trophy since 1995 when Steve and Mark Waugh combined for 326 runs in the fourth Test to lift the Aussies to a 2-1 victory.

Cricket Australia executive general manager of teams Ben Oliver said the Aussies wouldn’t take the Windies lightly after their Gabba triumph.

“Australia and the West Indies share a rich history, and we’re delighted the Test series has been expanded to three matches,” he said.

“The series will start the next World Test Championship cycle and, as we saw last summer, we will have to be at our best to retain the Frank Worrell Trophy.

“The additional T20 matches against a dynamic West Indies team will also provide a great opportunity to progress our preparation for the next T20 World Cup, which is now only 12 months away.”

Shamar Joseph bowled the tourists to a famous victory the last time the Aussies and Windies met. Picture: Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images

Test Series

June 25-29, First Test: Bridgetown, Barbados

July 3-7, Second Test: St George’s, Grenada

July 12-16, Third Test: Kingston, Jamaica.

T20 Series

July 20: First T20: Kingston, Jamaica

July 22: Second T20: Kingston, Jamaica

July 25: Third T20: Basseterre, St Kitts

July 26: Fourth T20: Basseterre, St Kitts

July 28: Fifth T20: Basseterre, St Kitts

Originally published as Australia and the West Indies lock in eight-game schedule in June-July