Australian cricket fans will seee the trans-Tasman rivalry this summer over a Twenty20 double-header as their men's and women's teams clash with New Zealand in Twenty20 matches.
SYDNEY: Australian cricket fans will seee the trans-Tasman rivalry this summer over a Twenty20 double-header as their men's and women's teams clash with New Zealand in Twenty20 matches at the Sydeny Cricket Ground next year.
The format was successfully used in Melbourne in February. The Southern Stars and Ricky Ponting's side will both start as favourites in the game that will begin Feb 15. The women will play before the men come on the scene.
It will be the Southern Stars' last match before they defend their ICC Women's World Cup championship here.
Cricket Australia's acting chairman Michael Brown said: "The double-header will not only add another chapter to the history of trans-Tasman competition, but it will also be a great promotional vehicle for women's cricket and the ICC Women's World Cup which will start in Sydney three weeks later."
New Southern Stars coach, Richard McInnes, said the match was an ideal way to prepare the team for the pressures they will face at the World Cup.
"The match will give the team a valuable opportunity to play on a big stage in a high pressure environment ahead of the World Cup and World Twenty20 which will be played in June next year," he said.
"After the reception they received at the MCG earlier this year, the players are excited at the prospect of playing in front of a large crowd in Sydney.
"However, we have a lot of hard work to do before then, starting with a tough series against India, a team we expect will be one of the main dangers at the World Cup."
The first international assignment for the Southern Stars of the summer will be a six-match series against world number two India in Sydney and Canberra.
The Southern Stars host India for a Twenty20 match and five one-dayers from October 28 to November 9 and then travel to New Zealand for the Rose Bowl before returning to host the Kiwis.
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