India tour of Australia venues, dates reportedly confirmed; Adelaide as stand-by for Boxing Day Test

After a lot of uncertainty, the dates and venues for Indian cricket team’s tour to Australia have been apparently confirmed. After the end of the IPL 2020, India’s cricket players will embark to Australia where they will have to be under quarantine for 14 days. However, according to a report in ESPNCricinfo, the starting point of India’s series will be Sydney. As per the quarantine rules of New South Wales state, the players will have to be under quarantine for two weeks but they can have access to practice facilities. It is the availability of practice facilities that has helped Australia chalk out the dates and venues. In previous instances, Bangladesh’s tour to Sri Lanka was cancelled as their mandatory quarantine did not allow them practice facilities.

The tour will start in November end with the first two ODIs being played in Sydney on November 27 and November 29. The series will then shift to the Manuka Oval in Canberra where India will play an ODI on December 1. The end of the ODI series will be followed by a three-match Twenty20 International series and the first game will be played on December 4. The series will once again shift back to Sydney for two T20Is.

The ESPNCricinfo report stated that Cricket Australia and the New South Wales state government struck a deal for the touring team and Australian players returning from the IPL. Cricket Australia and New South Wales were able to reach a quarantine and training agreement in a matter of days after interminable talks between CA and the Queensland state government and health department ran into a fifth week with no resolution in sight due to logistical issues.

Test venues uncertain

The coronavirus situation is critical in the state of Victoria where Melbourne is located. This has raised concerns about whether Melbourne will host the marquee Boxing Day Test. India will start their Test campaign on December 17 with the Pink Ball Test in Adelaide. In the previous tour, the Indian cricket team declined to play the Pink Ball Test due to lack of proper training.

In case Melbourne is not able to host a Test match, Adelaide will be the back-up venue for the Boxing Day Test as well that will begin on December 26. This will then be followed by the traditional New Year’s Test that has been pushed ahead slightly and will be played from  January 7 to January 11, 2021 at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The Gabba in Brisbane, which traditionally has hosted the opening game of the Australian international summer, will host the final Test on January 15.

Tentative schedule

First ODI, November 27, Australia vs India, Sydney

Second ODI, November 29, Australia vs India, Sydney

Third ODI, December 1, Australia vs India, Canberra

First T20I, December 4, Australia vs India, Canberra

Second T20I, December 6, Australia vs India, Sydney

Third T20I, December 8, Australia vs India, Sydney

Test schedule

1^st Test, Australia vs India, December 17-21, Pink Ball Test, Adelaide

2^nd Test, Australia vs India, December 26-30, Melbourne (Adelaide back-up venue in case COVID-19 persists in Melbourne)

3^rd Test, Australia vs India, January 7-11, Sydney

4^th Test, Australia vs India, January 15-19, Brisbane