Australia confirm Ashes schedule

Australia will take on England and New Zealand at home in the 2006/07 summer with Cricket Australia releasing its Ashes schedule earlier today.

The highly anticipated Ashes will start at Brisbane on November 23 before moving to Adelaide and Perth with the series concluding with the traditional Boxing Day and New Year matches in Melbourne and Sydney.

England’s tour will also feature several tour matches against a Prime Minister’s XI, New South Wales, South Australia and Western Australia.

The schedule also includes a Twenty/20 clash between the two nations in Sydney on January 9.

Cricket Australia CEO James Sutherland said the intense interest generated by this year’s Ashes clash meant patrons should get in early to avoid disappointment.

“Cricket Australia and the state associations have been inundated with requests for the dates of the 2006-07 program and that is a strong reflection on how much excitement and anticipation surrounds next summer’s program of international cricket,” he said.

“The level of interest in the entire program is unbelievable but in particular, the 3 mobile Ashes Test series is shaping as the biggest sporting event in Australia since the 2000 Olympics – that’s the scale we’re working on.

“To cater for the interest and popularity, we want to make sure that all Australians have the opportunity to be a part of the excitement. Even though our stadiums have relatively large capacities, we would be encouraging people to book their tickets early to avoid disappointment.”

The 12-match VB series will see New Zealand join England and Australia for two matches in each state and a best of three finals series in Melbourne, Sydney and, if required, Brisbane.

2006-07 Fixture

3 Mobile Test Series for ‘The Ashes’

Thur 23 – Mon 27 Nov Australia v England at Brisbane

Fri 1 – Tues 5 Dec Australia v England at Adelaide

Thur 14 – Mon 18 Dec Australia v England at Perth

Tues 26 – Sat 30 Dec Australia v England at Melbourne

Tues 2 – Sat 6 Jan Australia v England at Sydney

Twenty20 cricket

Tues 9 Jan Australia v England at Sydney

VB Series

Fri 12 Jan Australia v England at Melbourne

Sun 14 Jan Australia v New Zealand at Hobart

Tues 16 Jan England v New Zealand at Hobart

Fri 19 Jan Australia v England at Brisbane

Sun 21 Jan Australia v New Zealand at Sydney

Tues 23 Jan England v New Zealand at Adelaide

Fri 26 Jan Australia v England at Adelaide

Sun 28 Jan Australia v New Zealand at Perth

Tues 30 Jan England v New Zealand at Perth

Fri 2 Feb Australia v England at Sydney

Sun 4 Feb Australia v New Zealand at Melbourne

Tues 6 Feb England v New Zealand at Brisbane

Fri 9 Feb First Final at Melbourne

Sun 11 Feb Second Final at Sydney

Tues 13 Feb Third Final (if required) at Brisbane

Other Matches/Events

Fri 10 Nov PM’s XI v England Canberra

Sun 12 – Tues 14 Nov New South Wales v England at Sydney

Fri 17 – Sun 19 Nov South Australia v England at Adelaide

Fri 8 Dec CA Chairman XI v Invitational XI at Lilac Hill

Sat 9 – Sun 10 Dec Western Australia v England at Perth

Mon 5 February Allan Border Medal at Melbourne