Seven months of cricket
AUSTRALIA’S domestic cricket season will start on September 16 and run until April.
Cricket Australia has released more dates for its “summer” that spans more than six months, reflecting an expanded Big Bash League.
The one-day cup starts in Townsville on September 16.
The Shield final starts on March 28, with the second half of the first-class season to start on February 23 following a super-sized BBL.
Dukes balls will again be used in the second half of the Shield season, giving batsmen and bowlers a chance to practice with the balls they will face on next year’s Ashes tour.
Australia’s four-Test series against India starts on December 6 at Adelaide Oval.
A two-Test series involving Australia and Sri Lanka will start with a pink-ball clash at the Gabba on January 24.
From the moment Australia’s first Test against India finishes, players outside the XI will be restricted to white-ball action as they seek to build a case for a baggy green.
The upside for Glenn Maxwell and Ashton Agar is there will be five Shield rounds before that first Test.
The downside is they will probably not play all five, owing to international oneday and T20 matches.
The one-day cup will revert to a six-state competition.
All six teams will be involved in knockout fixtures before an October 10 final in Melbourne.