‘India to start Oz Tests in Brisbane’

Australia has locked in four venues for the financially crucial Test series against India and the first match is tentatively set for a December 3 start in Brisbane, as per local media reports.

Two Australian media outlets —7news.com.au and the Sydney Morning Herald—reported that the schedule for the four Tests has been finalised. According to reports, CA Chief Executive Kevin Roberts will make it official on Friday and the plan does not include any quarantine hub or “bio bubble” for the visitors.

“Cricket Australia (CA) on Wednesday ticked off on the Test series beginning in Brisbane on December 3 before heading to Adelaide from December 11 and Melbourne and Sydney for the traditional Boxing Day (December 26) and New Year Tests (January 3),” 7news.com.au reported.

It is expected that the second Test at Adelaide would be a day-night affair as the BCCI president Sourav Ganguly had committed. SMH reported: “Perth is scheduled to kick off the Australian Test summer with a pink-ball match against Afghanistan but Brisbane has won the right to host world powerhouse India in the season’s marquee series.”

While no BCCI office-bearers were available for comment, it is expected that the schedule, subject to Covid-19 situation, has been okayed by the visiting board in principle. “With Australia’s coronavirus situation easing, the series looks certain to go ahead without the need for a quarantine hub. The entire tour taking place in one city had been a possibility but the biggest question now is whether—or how many—fans will be allowed to attend the matches,” the report added.

NOT CONSIDERING ANY CHANGE IN RANJI: SABA

GM Cricket Operations Saba Karim on Wednesday denied reports about changing the format of Ranji Trophy.

Reports were doing the rounds that the board is mulling a change of format for the Ranji Trophy which would eventually see a considerable change in the number of matches being played in the season. But Karim said he wasn’t aware of this. “No, we haven’t send any proposal (to change the format of the tournament). I am not aware of any such thing and have not done that,” Karim said.

In the current format, Ranji Trophy is played between four groups: Elite Groups A and B having nine teams each, Group C having 10 and the Plate Group consisting of 10 teams.