International summer offers something for all fans

The Gabba will host its first Test against South Africa in 49 years and Canberra fans will have the chance to watch the Australian men’s team for the first time in a one-day international after the 2012-13 Australian summer of cricket schedule was announced today.

The summer will feature 43 days of international cricket plus three tour matches against South Africa, Sri Lanka and West Indies. It includes a pair of three-match Vodafone Test Series, twin five-game Commonwealth Bank Series and three KFC T20 INTLS.

Tickets will go on sale on Thursday October 4 starting with a priority period offering discounted tickets for members of the Australian Cricket Family (ACF). ACF members will have access to some of the best seats in the house and discounted ticket prices for seven days before general public sales open on October 11. General public sales will include tickets for both international and KFC T20 Big Bash League matches.

The action starts in just 114 days at the Gabba, with Brisbane hosting current second-ranked Test nation South Africa for the first time in 49 years. In the last Australia-South Africa Test played at the ground in December 1963, a Richie Benaud-led Australia drew with a South African team featuring six debutantes including left-handed batting ace Graeme Pollock. That match is also infamous for being Ian Meckiff’s last after he was no-balled for throwing four times in his only over.

From the Gabba, the series moves to Adelaide and Perth before South Africa leaves and Sri Lanka arrives for another three-match Vodafone Test Series.

The opening match of the Sri Lanka series will be played at Blundstone Arena, Bellerive. If Ricky Ponting plays all three Vodafone Tests against South Africa, he will be in line to create Australian cricket history by passing Steve Waugh as Australia’s most capped Test cricketer at his home ground.

The MCG and SCG retain their traditional Boxing Day and New Year slots as hosts of the second and third Vodafone Tests against Sri Lanka. The SCG will host the Pink Test for the fifth time, with Cricket Australia’s community action program, Cricket Cares, looking to build on the $3.5 million it has raised for the McGrath Foundation over the course of its five-year partnership.

The twin Vodafone Test Series will be followed by a pair of five-match, head-to-head Commonwealth Bank Series, the first against Sri Lanka and the second against West Indies. The series against West Indies will be highlighted by the first international cricket match featuring the Australian men’s team in Canberra.

In a big year for Canberra cricket fans, Manuka Oval will also host a Chairman’s XI match against Sri Lanka and the traditional PM’s XI clash, this summer against West Indies, as part of the national capital’s centenary celebration.

The Commonwealth Bank Series will be split by the first two KFC T20 INTL matches against Sri Lanka. In a break from tradition and while Adelaide Oval is being redeveloped, Sydney will host the Australian team on Australia Day with a KFC T20 INTL at Sydney Olympic Park.

The match in Sydney will be followed by a return clash between the teams at the MCG on January 28. The third KFC T20 INTL, and the final international match of the summer, will be played against West Indies on February 13 at the Gabba.

Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer James Sutherland encouraged fans to get along or tune in to watch Australia’s favourite team pursue its campaign to continue to re-emerge as a force in Test cricket.

“There are 49 days of international cricket plus three tour matches for fans to enjoy this summer,” Mr Sutherland said.

“Over the last 12 to 24 months we’ve seen some young and exciting talent injected into the Australian men’s team and those changes are starting to reap the rewards of the hard work led by Michael Clarke and Mickey Arthur.

“The Australian men’s team has a chance to test themselves early in the summer against a very strong South African side and the series is a great way to start the program.

“We’re also fortunate to have Sri Lanka back again. They play a very entertaining and attacking style of cricket and as we saw last year have a passionate and vocal fan base around Australia.

“This year we also return to head-to-head Commonwealth Bank Series and a highlight will be the Australian men’s team first international match in Canberra. The match is part of a big year of celebrations for Canberra and fans will be spoilt for choice with West Indies playing in the city twice and Sri Lanka once over the course of the summer.

“The Test and one-day series are again complemented by KFC T20 Internationals, including the Australia Day blockbuster at Sydney Olympic Park that I’m confident will draw a bumper crowd after last year’s first international match at the venue.”

All international matches will be broadcast in Australia on the Nine Network, ABC Radio and Vodafone mobile devices, with daily highlights shown on Fox Sports.

Australia’s summer of international cricket is also broadcast around the world by CA’s key international partners ESPN Star Sports (Asia), Sky Sport (New Zealand), SuperSport (South Africa) and Willow TV (United States and Canada).

Cricket.com.au will have all the live scores, as well as behind the scenes action on CATV or via Vodafone’s iPhone mobile application ‘Cricket Live’.

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