Summer cricket schedule: 6 big questions
IT’S a summer of cricket like we’ve never seen before. Why has it been planned like this and will it hurt Australia’s chances?
SIX burning questions about Australia’s 2016-17 summer of cricket.
What’s different about this international summer?
The first Test of the summer moves to Perth for the first time since 2003, which was only for a match against Zimbabwe before India arrived.
The series-opener against Pakistan in Brisbane is a day/night fixture, and there are three one-dayers against New Zealand between the South Africa and Pakistan Test matches.
Meanwhile four teams will head to Australia, the most in a non-World Cup year this century, for 41 days of cricket.
Why has Perth secured the first Test of the summer?
Cricket Australia (CA) is desperate to return crowds to the Gabba and they believe their best chance of doing that is by making the match a day-night Test and moving it closer to the school holiday period.
In turn, playing the first Test of the summer in Perth makes for prime-time viewing on the east coast.
Will the Adelaide Test be a day/nighter?
This is dependant on South Africa. Having never played with a pink ball before, they are hesitant to enter the match with limited preparations.
CA had to offer a $1-million prize pool to get New Zealand across the line last year, and it is likely they will have to follow a similar tactic this summer.
How long will it be until Canberra gets a Test?
CA announced on Wednesday that Canberra would host a Test in 2018-19 when both Sri Lanka and India tour.
It also means Hobart, which attracted just 15,343 fans across three days last year, could be under pressure to retain its spot on the calendar when they host a high-rating South African side for the first time.
Their only saving grace could be if CA opt to make Canberra’s first year a seven-Test summer.
Will a one-day series in the middle of the summer hurt our Test chances?
It’s the first time Australia have held a mid-summer one-day series since 2007-08, where the hosts subsequently drew a 2-2 series with India following the 50-over clashes. And given the short break between the fixtures, it doesn’t help that the Australian players won’t have any games in the Sheffield Shield before the day/night Test with the No.4-ranked Pakistanis.
Where is Twenty20 cricket in the schedule?
Australia will host Sri Lanka in three T20 fixtures in February, three weeks after the Pakistan ODI series.
That could allow time for a quick one-day series in New Zealand, which is already being planned.
The venues for the Sri Lankan T20s are yet to be determined.
2016-17 SCHEDULE
AUSTRALIA VS SOUTH AFRICA TEST SERIES
Nov 3-7, Perth
Nov 12-16, Hobart
Nov 24-28, Adelaide*
AUSTRALIA VS NEW ZEALAND ONE-DAY SERIES
Dec 4, Sydney
Dec 6, Canberra
Dec 9, Melbourne
AUSTRALIA VS PAKISTAN TEST SERIES
Dec 15-19, Brisbane (D/N)
Dec 26-30, Melbourne
Jan 3-7, Sydney
AUSTRALIA VS PAKISTAN ONE-DAY SERIES
Jan 13, Brisbane
Jan 15, Melbourne
Jan 19, Perth
Jan 22, Sydney
Jan 26, Adelaide
AUSTRALIA VS SRI LANKA, T20 SERIES
Feb 17, TBA
Feb 19, TBA
Feb 22, TBA
* Possible day-night Test, dependent on agreement between CA and Cricket South Africa
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