Match schedules for cricket’s sensational summer announced
Full schedules are available at cricket.com.au
· Commonwealth Bank Women’s International Series v Pakistan
· Matador BBQs One-Day Cup
· Bupa Sheffield Shield
· Commonwealth Bank Women’s International Series v West Indies
· KFC T20 INTL Series v South Africa
· Carlton Mid ODI Series v South Africa
· Commonwealth Bank Test Series v India
· Carlton Mid ODI Tri Series v India and England
· ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
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Notes:
· Audio from James Sutherland and infographics are available from the CA Media Centre. Details are below
· Additional materials to complement this media release are attached
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Cricket Australia has today announced the international and domestic schedule of matches for the biggest summer in the sport’s history.
The full men’s and women’s international schedules for 2014-15 (including tour/warm-up games and the traditional Prime Minister’s XI match), along with the fixtures for the Bupa Sheffield Shield and Matador BBQs One-Day Cup (formerly RYOBI One-Day Cup) have all been confirmed, with the full KFC T20 Big Bash League, Women’s National Cricket League and Women’s T20 schedules to be announced in the coming weeks.
2014-15 Season Highlights include:
· Commonwealth Bank Test Series against India, starting at the Gabba on 4 December. Fans in Brisbane will see the India Test team for the first time since 2003-04
· Two Carlton Mid ODI Series, first against South Africa and then a tri series between India and England, as the Australia men’s team prepares for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
· 16 home matches for the dual world champion Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars against Pakistan and then the West Indies
· Day-night Round of Bupa Sheffield Shield with matches in Adelaide, Hobart and Perth from 8-11 November as CA continues to trial balls and playing conditions that could potentially enable a day-night Test to be played
· Matador BBQs One-Day Cup to be hosted in Brisbane and Sydney from 4-26 October in the tournament format introduced successfully last season
· KFC T20 Big Bash League’s fourth season to start Thursday 18 December
· ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 in February and March in Australia and New Zealand
· In the next 12 months, international or Australia A matches will be played in every state and territory
Including the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015, there will be more than 330 days of international and domestic cricket from late August to late March, providing multiple opportunities for fans across Australia to enjoy the cricket regardless of their location or format preference.
Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland said:
“The next 12 months will have something for everyone. It contains some refinements from last season that benefits both players and fans. Never before have we had so much high quality cricket to offer around Australia, whether it’s international or domestic, men’s or women’s, or played with a red or white ball.
“Including the men’s Australia A series, which is being played in Brisbane, Townsville and Darwin during July and August, international or Australia A cricket will be played in every state and territory around the country over the next 12 months.
“For the players, this season there is an extra round of our newly-named Matador BBQs One-Day Cup, while there have been additional days added between rounds of the Bupa Sheffield Shield to provide more rest, recovery and preparation time.
“CA is responsible for the scheduling of all international and domestic matches and the priority this summer has been finding a balance across the country to ensure fans enjoy what will be a sensational summer of cricket.
“While we only had four Commonwealth Bank Tests to schedule, there’s a full program of men’s and women’s limited overs matches, as well as the various competitions that make Australian domestic cricket the toughest and most competitive in the world.
“The 2014-15 schedule looks very different to previous summers due in large part to the ICC
Cricket World Cup 2015 that we are co-hosting with New Zealand for the first time in 23 years.
“Australian fans will be able to watch more cricket than ever before, whether it’s our number one-ranked Test and ODI men’s teams, our dual world champion Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars, or any of the state or BBL teams that play in our domestic competitions.
“Last season was a remarkable period for Australian cricket. Led by the record TV ratings for the Nine Network’s world-class coverage of international cricket, we set new benchmarks in almost every area including digital, radio coverage and attendance.
“With a Test series against India, ODIs against the top teams in world cricket, the ICC Cricket World Cup and another strong domestic calendar, this year promises to be even bigger.
“On the domestic front, as well as the extra Matador BBQs One-Day Cup matches and improved spacing of Bupa Sheffield Shield matches, we have also scheduled a round of day-night Shield matches early in the season.
“We think the November-December period is the most fan and player-friendly time of year for a day-night Test to be played if these trials are successful.
“Tickets to the international summer go on sale in late July and once again the best way for Australian fans to secure their tickets is through the Australian Cricket Family.
“Membership is free and fans who are part of this program are given to priority access to buy tickets before they go on sale to the general public.”
2014-15 Season Summary
Structure
· CA has continued to refine the schedule:
o The domestic 50-over tournament, now called the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup, will continue its successful tournament format to launch the summer of men’s cricket with an additional round of matches to provide further preparation and selection opportunities ahead of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
o The separation of the one-day domestic and Bupa Sheffield Shield competitions last season proved successful in terms of player performances and fan interest, and that will continue in 2014-15
o Four rounds of the Bupa Sheffield Shield to be played before the Commonwealth Bank Test Series
o Five rounds of the Bupa Sheffield Shield to be played before the KFC T20 Big Bash League, compared to six in the same period last year
o Additional days (one or two days) between each Bupa Sheffield Shield round in the first half of the season to allow for greater recovery and preparation time for players, especially fast bowlers
o KFC T20 Big Bash League played across the summer holiday season. Season shortened by a week (43 days compared to 50 days in 2013-14) to provide more concentrated action and entertainment for fans throughout the January school holidays
o Second half of the Bupa Sheffield Shield following the KFC T20 Big Bash League. Some matches to be played in regional venues (due to unavailability of SCG, MCG and Adelaide Oval due to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015) to provide first-class cricket to fans outside metropolitan areas
International Matches
· KFC T20 Internationals
o World-class and fully-redeveloped Adelaide Oval to open the international season as part of a three-match double header series for Australia men’s and women’s teams. Men: KFC T20 Internationals - Australia v South Africa; Women: Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars v West Indies
o Three Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars T20 Internationals v West Indies played as double headers with the men and broadcast on the Nine Network
· Commonwealth Bank Women’s International Series
o 16 home matches for the 50-over and 20-over world champion Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars
o 8 matches v Pakistan (4 x T20; 4 x ODI)
o 8 matches v West Indies (4 x T20; 4 x ODI), the team they met in the 2013 ICC Women’s World Cup Final and semi-final of this year’s ICC Women’s World Twenty20
· Carlton Mid ODI Series v South Africa
o South Africa to play Australia in an ODI at the MCG for just the second time since 2002, and at the SCG for the first time since 2006
o Manuka Oval in Canberra to host Australia ODI team for second time in three seasons, this time against South Africa in a day-night match on 19 November
· Commonwealth Bank Test Series
o Brisbane to host a Test v India for the first time in 11 years
o Adelaide Oval to host a Test for the first time since the venue’s redevelopment has been fully completed
· Carlton Mid ODI Tri Series v India and England
o Blundstone Arena to host an Australia v England ODI to officially launch the new Western Stand
o SCG to host an ODI against India on Australia Day (also India’s Republic Day). It will be the fourth time the SCG has held an ODI on Australia Day
o Final to be played at the WACA
· ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 to finish the season
o 49 matches in 44 days in Australia and New Zealand; 7 host cities in Australia
o Three Quarter Finals (Adelaide Oval, MCG and SCG); Semi Final (SCG) and Final (MCG) all played in Australia
· Tour Matches
o Adelaide to host a pair of two-day tour matches between a CA XI and India prior to the Commonwealth Bank Test Series
o England and India to play a warm-up match before the Carlton Mid ODI Tri Series at Drummoyne Oval on 12 January
o Traditional Prime Minister’s XI match will feature England at Manuka Oval on 14 January. Fixture is a day-night match
o South Africa to play a T20 warm-up match at North Sydney Oval on 2 November. Match will a form a double-header with a Commonwealth Bank Women’s T20 International between Australia and West Indies
· Australia A Series
o Australia A will play India A and South Africa A in Brisbane, Townsville and Darwin in July and August
Men’s Domestic Season
· Matador BBQs One-Day Cup
o To continue in a tournament format after the success of 2013
o Played from 4-26 October with 15 matches broadcast live on GEM
o Played across two cities (Brisbane and Sydney)
o Day-night matches at Drummoyne Oval to be broadcast on TV for the first time
o An additional round of matches to provide further preparation and selection opportunities for the CWC
o Final to be hosted at SCG
· Bupa Sheffield Shield
o Continuation of day-night Shield trial. Round 2 of Bupa Sheffield Shield to be played as day-night matches in Adelaide, Hobart and Perth
o Some matches in second half of the Shield season to visit regional venues due to the unavailability of SCG, MCG and Adelaide Oval due to the ICC Cricket World Cup. Some venues TBC
o Season split into two rounds of five. Second half of season to provide preparation for Test-only players for West Indies and Ashes tours
· KFC T20 Big Bash League
o 35 matches in 43 days
o Played across the holiday season from 18 December to 28 January
o Full schedule to be announced soon
Women’s Domestic Season
· Seasons to run from 10 October to 1 February
· WT20 Final to be played as double header with the KFC T20 Big Bash League Final
· Same format as last year with 50-over and 20-over matches to be played on same weekend
· NSW Breakers looking for 10th straight WNCL title
Ticketing Information
Australian Cricket Family
The best way for Australian fans to secure tickets to the 2014-15 international season is the Australian Cricket Family (ACF).
Membership is free and provides priority access and a discount to tickets (compared to pre-purchase and at-the-gate ticket prices).
Members of the ACF who live overseas do not receive priority access to tickets. Fans have until 5pm on Sunday 20 July, 2014 to register for the ACF and qualify for access to the priority ticketing period and other membership benefits. More information at http://www.cricket.com.au/acf" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;.