2008/2009 Australian Season

[howardj]

The schedule has just been released.

New Zealand and South Africa to play both one-day and Test series against the world champions over a three-month period from November to February.

New Zealand will play two Tests in Brisbane and Adelaide in November and December, while South Africa will play a three-Test series starting in Perth before Christmas and taking in the traditional Melbourne and Sydney Test matches.

The international summer will start later than usual, on November 22, with Australia's four-Test tour of India not completed until November 9.

 

[Nate]

Will be good to have some cricket against the Kiwis.

 

[sideshowtim]

Disappointing that the series with the Kiwis is only 2 tests...Can't see why it shouldn't be 3.

 

[howardj]

What a joke for Brisbane fans.

1. Once again, we miss out on seeing the marquee touring team in a Test match

2. We don't get to see the marquee team in action at all - except in a hit and giggle match.

3. But for a hit and giggle match, we get no cricket between the first match of the Summer and the last day of the Summer. In the interim, we have to nourish ourselves on matches involving the worst domestic team in the country.

Absolutely dudded.

 

[Nate]

Being in Brisbane the problem here, not the schedule one f33ls.

 

[howardj]

We're lovely people up here, we deserve the best the cricket season has to offer.

I'm downing tools right now and storming the CA fortress in protest.

 

[sideshowtim]

Has the Pura Cup etc. schedule been released yet?

 

[Tim]

Im looking forward to the ODI series for sure as I think we've got a good all-round side right now. But, 2 tests is probably the most we can ask for against Australia.

 

[Burgey]

All test series should be 3 tests at least, and typcial of CA not to have the balls to step up and lead the way.

Hmmm - the 1st SA test in Perth. If (and it's a big if) they get something like a traditional WACA wicket, that could be really interesting for Australia's batsmen (assuming Steyn et al are fit and firing).

 

[Craig]

A joke that New Zealand only gets two Tests against Australia. Yeah sure we'll probably get our arses handed to us, but that is not the point. I'm a cricket fan first and foremost and I'll rather see a three Test series instead. Either the NZC hardens the **** up and insist on playing more three Test series or give up the charade of playing Tests and just concentrate only on ODI cricket T20. It might take some tinkering but it could work (for one is there any relevance to the C-H series?).

If nothing else what is the point of playing a tour game in Sydney when your first Test is in Brisbane, the conditions could not be anymore different.

 

[oitoitoi]

All test series should be 3 tests at least, and typcial of CA not to have the balls to step up and lead the way.

Hmmm - the 1st SA test in Perth. If (and it's a big if) they get something like a traditional WACA wicket, that could be really interesting for Australia's batsmen (assuming Steyn et al are fit and firing).

An interesting point, indeed after Vettori I wonder if any of the current side will reach a hundred tests? I mean Mcullum's in with a chance because he's already got 33 or so behind him and he's just 26, though at a rate of 6 tests a year he's going to struggle.

 

[Mister Wright]

It's going to be a massive day on the 22nd of Novemeber. Will be attending the 3rd day of the test (assuming New Zealand hold out that long ) and then off to the Rugby League World Cup final that night. Great stuff.

 

[brockley]

Busy festive season planned for state teams in 2008-09

Boxing Day given another test with domestic Twenty20

Peter English

May 27, 2008



Victoria have won the first three versions of Twenty20 in Australia © Getty Images




Boxing Day has always been an occasion to indulge in cricket, but this year there will be even more on offer with a domestic Twenty20 game expected to be added to the public holiday. Cricket Australia is planning a major review of the tournament in Australia as it tries to develop its own version of the Indian Premier League, but it has resisted the urge to tinker immediately and there are only minor changes to the 2008-09 scheduling, which includes the addition of a preliminary final to the fixture list.

A revised draft of the season plan shows the KFC Twenty20 Big Bash will begin with a night match between Queensland and New South Wales at the Gabba on Boxing Day and another three games will be held in the same week as the MCG Test. Last season the tournament, which is preparing for its fourth summer in Australia, began on New Year's Eve and the top two teams after the preliminary rounds went through to the decider. Victoria won the competition for the third year in a row.

The period from Boxing Day to the final on January 24 will be blocked off for domestic Twenty20 fixtures, although appearances from Australia's major players will be prevented by the staging of the Test and limited-overs matches involving South Africa. Twelve of the 17 inter-state contests will be televised on Fox Sports, with each team involved in five rounds before the two finals.

Twenty-two of the 50-over FR Cup fixtures will be broadcast, starting with the season opener between Western Australia and New South Wales on October 15. The Pura Cup is due to begin on October 10 with matches between Queensland and Tasmania and the Warriors and the Blues.

Peter English is the Australasia editor of Cricinfo

 

[brockley]

No canberra comets,maybe we will get them for the big shake up in 2009/10.