Lightning McQueen wrote:Jim05 wrote:Lightning McQueen wrote:Where are we off to after The Ashes?
Pakistan for some T20’s in Feb and then India/Sri Lanka for T20 World Cup straight after that.
We don’t play another test until August when we have one test against Afghanistan in Northern Australia then we get a bit full on and hectic with a 3 test tour of South Africa in Sep/Oct followed by a 4 test series v NZ for our summer and then as soon as that finishes we head to India for 5 tests in Jan/Feb 2027 before finishing with the 150th anniversary test against the Poms at the MCG in March. So 14 tests in just on 7 months
Just such a waste in our calendar to have the warmer months without international cricket at home.
I was blessed growing up in the 80's.
I reckon they should bring back the World Series concept in February for International One Day Cricket, with some modifications. I too have fond memories of that being the earliest cricket I watched on TV, as a young child, in the 80's.
- Join forces with New Zealand so all games feature a home team (either Aus or NZ), this tournament to be for the annual Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.
- The 3rd team to be the likes of West Indies/Sri Lanka/Pakistan/England or even Afghanistan/Ireland etc. Whoever has a gap in their calendar.
- Australia would play 6 games around the country (4 against invited team, 2 against NZ at home and 2 away), as would New Zealand (4 against invited team and 2 against AUS at home and 2 away), then a Final, either in Aus or NZ depending which team finished higher.
- Doesn't matter if Australia is scheduled to play an away Test series during this period, or if players are rested. A chance to play the professional white ball cricketers and those who have impressed and made a name for themselves during the BBL - which would be fresh in the public's mind having just finished. The Test team considered priority 1 in terms of selection.
- Use the smaller grounds (i.e. the State teams Shield grounds - eg. North Sydney, or Karen Rolton as it was set up for the Shield Final) if public demand isn't great, so it generates atmosphere at the ground and on TV.
FWIW, I'd also start the Shield Season earlier, at the beginning of September, and have the Shield Final scheduled for the gap between Tests in December, i.e. the weekend spare between the Gabba and Adelaide Oval Test. Public interest in red ball cricket is at a premium during this period and I think the Shield Final, as an event, could become a flagship in the calendar, rather than hidden away in March. Then have the domestic 50-over competition run simultaneously with the international tri-series mentioned above, during February. AFL can take over, as they already have done so, once March arrives - plus our cricketers are off to the IPL etc.
Our international summer (Mens) shouldn't finish after the New Years Test.