India to play four Tests during tour of Australia

MELBOURNE: A four-match Test series, a triangular one-day tournament and a Twenty20 figure on the schedule of the Indian cricket team's long tour of Australia beginning December this year.

Cricket Australia announced on Thursday that the Indians, who are likely to be Down Under for about 75 days, will play their opening Test here from December 26-30, traditionally known as the Boxing Day Test.

The Indians will play the second Test in Sydney from January 2-6 followed by two other Tests in Perth (Jan 16-20) and Adelaide (Jan 24-28).

The Test series will be followed by a triangular one-day tournament involving Sri Lanka as the third team.

The limited overs series would begin from February 3 with the Australian capital Canberra, not known to be a regular cricketing venue, hosting a India-Sri Lanka match on February 12.

The league matches, which run till February 29, would be followed by a best of three finals on March 2 (Sydney), March 4 (Brisbane) and March 7 (Adelaide).

Besides, India are also scheduled to play a Twenty-20 international against the hosts at Melbourne on February 1.

"There is no doubt we would have a preference for having the Indian tour earlier than we are, but at the same time it creates opportunities for us to do other things," said Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland.

Sri Lanka come into the tri-series after playing two Tests against Australia, at Brisbane (November 8-12) and Hobart (November 16-20).

In between, Australia host New Zealand for Chappell-Hadlee Series involving three one-dayers. The two teams will also play a Twenty-20.