Overnight Cricket Australia announced its intended international schedule for the 2020/21 summer.
The MCG will play host to the traditional Boxing Day Test as well as a One Day International between Australia and India on Friday January 15, 2021.Cricket Australia said it was confident in hosting a safe and successful summer season with CEO Kevin Roberts outlining the COVID-19 pandemic was still very much top of mind.
“While acknowledging the difficulty in navigating a global pandemic, we are nonetheless encouraged by the progress Australia is making in combatting the coronavirus and the positive impact that is having on our ability to host an exciting summer of cricket in 2020-21,” Mr Roberts said.
“We know that circumstances or events beyond our control could mean that the final schedule potentially may look different to the one released today, but we’ll be doing everything we can to get as much international cricket in as possible this summer. We will communicate any changes to the schedule if or when they are required.
“We are engaged in ongoing discussions with federal and state governments, our venues and the touring nations to continually understand and monitor the situation in front of us, which is evolving every day. We’ll continue to act in accordance with public health advice and government protocols to ensure the safety of the public, players and support staff,” he said.
The four test series will see Australia and India play it out for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. It was named in honour of the two countries' greatest batsmen, Australia’s Allan Border and India’s Sunil Gavaskar. India currently holds the trophy after regaining it in the 2017 series however Australia has recently reclaimed the No.1 Test ranking after India held the top spot for nearly four years.
View: 2020-21 Men’s and Women’s International Schedule**
Men’s Test Series against India
Australia v India at the Gabba, Brisbane (December 3- 7)Australia v India at Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (December 11 - 15)
Boxing Day Test, Australia v India at the MCG, Melbourne (December 26 - 30)
Pink Test, Australia v India at the SCG, Sydney (January 3 - 7)
Gillette Men’s ODI Series against India
Australia v India at Perth Stadium, Perth (January 12)Australia v India at the MCG, Melbourne (January 15)
Australia v India at the SCG, Sydney (January 17)
**CA reserves the right to change the 20-21 international cricket schedule