
Perth have been terrible crowd pullers* for years and they reward them?
SOUTH Australians should plan for a return to the pre-Christmas Test at Adelaide Oval when Cricket Australia announces its international schedule for the 2008-09 season today.
CA is tipped to include Adelaide Oval Test and one-day games between Australia and New Zealand during December.
Adelaide enjoyed a one-off restoration of its much-loved Australia Day weekend Test which featured India in January.
It is understood the Black Caps will play two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide while Perth, Melbourne and Sydney host "glamour" Tests against South Africa,.
The SCG New Year's Test will start on January 3 to allow greater recovery time following the blue-chip Boxing Day clash.
The popular Proteas' only appearance in the City of Churches shapes as an Australia Day 50-over blockbuster.
Ricky Ponting's side visits South Africa for three Tests, two Twenty20 games and five one-dayers next February/March.
Inspired India won the tri-series competition against Australia and Sri Lanka last season.
CA resolved to shelve the Kerry Packer concept after 30 years as part of an overhaul of the Australia international season.
CA has indicated it favours five-game, head-to-head 50-over contests which eliminates neutral games labelled as "boring" by critics.
The South Australian Cricket Association had initially been happy to host the low-profile Kiwis before the postponement of its $90 million western grandstand redevelopment.
Adelaide Oval was overlooked for three scheduled Twenty20 games which will almost certainly be sell-outs in Brisbane, Melbourne and Sydney.
CA is exploring the possibility of staging its own Indian Premier League style Twenty20 tournament within two years.