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Sydney’s hosting rights to the New Year’s Test remain under threat as South Australia continues its scheme to steal the marquee fixture, despite the SCG being granted the match next year.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Cricket Australia has had preliminary contact with the newly elected Minns government and organised further meetings to discuss the value of the New Year’s Test to NSW.
Cricket Australia has not guaranteed that forthcoming New Year’s Tests will be scheduled in Sydney, with its head of cricket operations and scheduling Peter Roach voicing a different approach from the governing body.
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“We are always looking at ways to optimise our schedule for the benefit of all Australian cricket, which is why we are working on a longer-term content strategy,” Roach told the Herald.
“The strong interest around the country in hosting major cricket matches is an indication of the enormous appeal of Australia’s national sport and the enduring love of Test cricket in particular.”
South Australia’s bid to steal the New Year’s Test comes as Cricket Australia announced the men’s and women’s international fixtures for the upcoming Australian summer.
The schedule features six Tests, nine ODIs and nine T20Is, with the national men’s and women’s teams facing off against Pakistan, South Africa and West Indies.
The matches will be played at 11 venues across seven cities from October 1 to February 13.
The Australian women’s team will kick-start the summer with clean air before the men’s Test team breaks more than a century of tradition by staging their entire schedule during the school holiday break.
In other features, the Gabba will host its first pink-ball Test match in five years when Brisbane hosts the second Test between Australia and West Indies from January 25.
The Gabba last housed a day-night Test in 2019 when Australia defeated Pakistan by an innings and five runs.
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The WACA Ground will also host the inaugural Test between Australia and South Africa‘s women’s teams from February 15.
The contest will see Meg Lanning’s side go in for their first red-ball victory on home soil since Australia claimed the Women’s Ashes in 2011.
Australia will look to retain the Benaud–Qadir Trophy during a three-Test series against Pakistan, which will begin at Perth Stadium on December 14 and includes the traditional MCG Boxing Day and SCG New Year’s games.
In the last 40 years, Pakistan has only won one Test Down Under – a 74-run victory at the SCG in November 1995.
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Pat Cummins’ men will then face the West Indies for the second time in as many summers with a two-Test series at Adelaide Oval and the Gabba.
Last year, Australia clinched their series 2-0.
“Cricket provides the sights and sounds of the summer and brings Australians together like no other sport and we can’t wait to welcome fans to watch world-class cricket next season,” Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said in a statement.
“We look forward to West Indies, Pakistan and South Africa visiting our shores this summer and we thank them along with all our partners, including broadcasters, venues and local governments for their support in bringing world-class cricket to fans around the country.”
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2023-24 Australian home international schedule (all local time)
Women’s CommBank T20I Series v West Indies
October 1: North Sydney Oval, 12.30pm
October 2: North Sydney Oval, 7.05pm
October 5: Allan Border Field, Brisbane 6.05pm
Women’s CommBank ODI Series v West Indies
October 8: Allan Border Field, Brisbane 9.35am
October 12: Junction Oval, Melbourne 10.05am
October 15: Junction Oval, Melbourne 10.05am
Women’s CommBank T20I Series v South Africa
January 27: Manuka Oval, Canberra 10.45am
January 28: Manuka Oval, Canberra 10.45am
January 30: Blundstone Arena, Hobart 7.05pm
Women’s CommBank ODI Series v South Africa
February 3: Adelaide Oval, 2.10pm
February 7: North Sydney Oval, 2.40pm
February 10: North Sydney Oval, 2.40pm
Women’s CommBank Test Match v South Africa
February 15-18: Only Test, WACA Ground, Perth 11.00am
Men’s NRMA Insurance Test Series v Pakistan
December 14-18: First Test, Perth Stadium, 10.20am
December 26-30: Second Test, MCG, 10.30am
January 3-7: Third Test, SCG, 10.30am
Men’s NRMA Insurance Test Series v West Indies
January 17-21: First Test, Adelaide Oval, 10.00am
January 25-29: Second Test, Gabba, 2.00pm
Men’s Dettol ODI Series v West Indies
February 2: MCG, 2.30pm
February 4: SCG, 2.30pm
February 6: Manuka Oval, Canberra 2.30pm
Men’s Dettol T20I Series v West Indies
February 9: Blundstone Arena, Hobart 7.00pm
February 11: Adelaide Oval, 6.30pm
February 13: Perth Stadium, 4.00pm
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