Opportunity for Australia's players to prepare for blockbuster Test series against India as Sheffield Shield begins on October 8
With a high-profile Test series against India in the upcoming home summer, Cricket Australia has announced a crucial preparation window for its players. The all-format stars of the men's team will have upto four Sheffield Shield matches to prepare for the five-Test series.
Cricket Australia, on Thursday, announced the schedule for the domestic matches. With the Men in Yellow finishing their white-ball tour of England and Scotland on September 29, they should be available for the Sheffield Shield season, commencing on October 8.
According to the schedule, six Sheffield Sheild rounds will take place before the men's Big Bash League which gets underway on December 15. However, the national team also faces a white-ball visit from Pakistan (3 T20Is and 3 ODIs) in November, thereby impacting their availability for the red-ball fixtures.
The Shield matches will provide an opportunity for fringe players like Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris to push their selection cases. With the think tank promoting Steve Smith to open the innings after David Warner's retirement and the move not paying off as expected yet, the selectors could opt for a spare batter in the squad.
Australia have not won a Test series against India since 2014-15
India have asserted their dominance over Australia in the longest format over the last decade. Since the 2014-15 series Down Under, the Indians have not lost a Test series to the Baggy Greens. They regained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy in a tough series at the start of 2017 and went on to win the next two away series.
The sub-continent nation retained the trophy in another four-Test series on home soil early last year. An ageing home team will be under pressure to win back the crown. With Pat Cummins' men also holding the World Test Championship mace currently, the series will form a vital part of their title defense.
The Test series begins on Friday, November 22, in Perth. Adelaide, Brisbane, Melbourne, and Sydney are the venues for the next four fixtures.