Australia release home summer schedule

Cricket365
April 23, 2016

Cricket Australia have released their home summer fixtures, featuring the now-infamous series against South Africa, as well as visits from Pakistan and Sri Lanka into the new year.

The Proteas are not keen to have their third Test in Adelaide as a day-night match and work is ongoing to convince them of it, while Pakistan follow swiftly on their heals and will be the Boxing Day and New Year opponents.

The WACA in Perth will host the first Test against South Africa, catering to both sides' premier fast bowlers, giving the ground a chance to show off before being removed from the top tier Test circuit next year.

CA chief James Sutherland said: "The decision to start the international season in Perth allows us to do so with a bang.

"It gives Western Australian cricket fans, including a strong local South African community, the chance to see two of the world's best sides, while allowing us to broadcast the match in prime time to the east coast of Australia."

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Test series is also set to feature a day-night match in Brisbane, with the PCB seemingly having no problems with the idea. Unlike the Proteas though, this game will be the first of the series.

He added of the first Test of the Pakistan series: "In partnership with Queensland Cricket, we've explored a number of options for boosting the appeal of the [Gabba] Test match.

"We think staging it at the beginning of the holiday period when more parents and kids can get to the game is certainly worth trialling.

"We also believe that Queensland's climate really lends itself to Test cricket in day-night conditions, making for a great fan experience.

"We've had a number of pink ball trials under lights in Brisbane and believe that the time is right to stage a day-night Test at the Gabba, adding another chapter to international cricket in Queensland."

Fixtures:

Test series v South Africa

1st Test, Perth, November 3-7
2nd Test, Hobart, November 12-16
3rd Test, Adelaide, November 24-28

Chappell-Hadlee Trophy

1st ODI, Sydney, December 4
2nd ODI, Canberra, December 6
3rd ODI, Melbourne, December 9

Test series v Pakistan

1st Test, Brisbane, December 15-19
2nd Test, Melbourne, December 26-30
3rd Test, Sydney, January 3-7

ODI series v Pakistan

1st ODI, Brisbane, January 13
2nd ODI, Melbourne, January 15
3rd ODI, Perth, January 19
4th ODI, Sydney, January 22
5th ODI, Adelaide, January 26

T20 series v Sri Lanka

1st T20, TBC, February 17
2nd T20, TBC, February 19
3rd T20, TBC, February 22