Cricket Australia announces 2008-09 international program
An Australian 2008-09 international cricket season featuring a joust between the top two ranked one-day international sides, a new one-day format and the addition of a third international KFC Twenty20 match, was announced today.
Australia will play two separate five-match Commonwealth Bank Series, the first against world number one-ranked South Africa throughout January and the second a traditional Trans Tasman battle against New Zealand for the Chappell Hadlee Trophy during February.
This will follow five 3 mobile Test matches, two against New Zealand in November and early December and three against South Africa in December and January.
A third KFC Twenty20 International has been added to the schedule this season, with two being played against South Africa in Melbourne and Brisbane and a third scheduled against New Zealand in Sydney.
The international cricket summer returns to the traditional late November launch and February finish after global programming challenges resulted in an extended season last summer.
The traditional elements of the summer have been retained with Brisbane again hosting the opening international match of the season when Australia meets New Zealand in the first 3 mobile Test match. Other icon events will see Australia taking on South Africa in the 3 mobile Boxing Day and 3 mobile New Year’s Tests in Melbourne and Sydney respectively.
The Sydney Test against South Africa will start on 3 January to allow players a recovery period between Test matches.
Australia will look to hold onto the Chappell Hadlee Trophy during its five-match Commonwealth Bank Series against the Black Caps to be played during February.
Adelaide will host the Australia Day match next year in the format of a one-day Commonwealth Bank Series match between Australia and South Africa.
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said: “A new look ODI format now features Australia in every Commonwealth Bank Series match.
“Two head-to-head contests against current number one-ranked South Africa and against New Zealand, give us the new ability to promise fans the first-hand opportunity to see their Australian heroes in action every time they attend or tune in to an Australian summer ODI,” he said.
There are three tour matches scheduled this summer, including a Tasmanian fixture against South Africa in Hobart from 20-22 December, which follows the South African tour match against Western Australia in Perth from 6-8 December.
New Zealand will also play one tour match from 13-16 November against NSW in Sydney. The details of the annual Prime Minister’s XI fixture in Canberra are still being finalised.
The international women’s season schedule will be announced shortly. The Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars, Australia’s world champion women’s cricket team, will play India in five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 international in October/November this year in preparation for the ICC Women’s World Cup.
The ICC Women’s World Cup will feature the top eight women’s teams in world cricket and will be held in New South Wales and ACT from 7-22 March, 2009.
Live scores, match information, statistics, daily match highlights and behind the-scenes videos from the entire 2008-09 international season will again be available to all on www.cricket.com.au
Tickets to the 2008-09 international cricket season will go on sale in August 2008 with priority access once again available to eligible members of the Australian Cricket Family. Fans can register to be a member of the Australian Cricket Family at www.cricket.com.au
The 3 mobile Test series, Commonwealth Bank Series, and KFC Twenty20 international games will be broadcast live on Channel Nine, ABC Radio and through CA’s wireless rights partner 3 mobile. Fox Sports will again show highlights from the international matches, as well as telecast the interstate cricket season. 3 mobile subscribers will be able to watch live coverage and access match information via their 3 mobile handsets.
The 2008-09 interstate competition schedule will be released in the coming weeks.
2008-09 International Program
Women’s International Series
October/November Australia v India TBA
Tour Matches
Thursday 13 – Sunday 16 November New South Wales v New Zealand Sydney
Saturday 6 – Monday 8 December Western Australia v South Africa Perth
Saturday 20 – Monday 22 December Tasmania v South Africa Hobart
3 mobile Test Series
Thursday 20 – Monday 24 November Australia v New Zealand Brisbane
Friday 28 November – Tuesday 2 December Australia v New Zealand Adelaide
Friday 12 – Tuesday 16 December Australia v South Africa Perth
Friday 26 – Tuesday 30 December Australia v South Africa Melbourne
Saturday 3 – Wednesday 7 January Australia v South Africa Sydney
KFC Twenty20 International
Sunday 11 January Australia v South Africa Melbourne
Tuesday 13 January Australia v South Africa Brisbane
Commonwealth Bank Series
Friday 16 January Australia v South Africa Melbourne
Sunday 18 January Australia v South Africa Hobart
Friday 23 January Australia v South Africa Sydney
Monday 26 January Australia v South Africa Adelaide
Friday 30 January Australia v South Africa Perth
Commonwealth Bank Series
Sunday 1 February Australia v New Zealand Perth
Friday 6 February Australia v New Zealand Melbourne
Sunday 8 February Australia v New Zealand Sydney
Tuesday 10 February Australia v New Zealand Adelaide
Friday 13 February Australia v New Zealand Brisbane
KFC Twenty20 International
Sunday 15 February Australia v New Zealand Sydney
Events
Tuesday 3 February Allan Border Medal Crown Palladium
