Make sure you’ve got your helmet and pads ready to face a monster summer cricket schedule.
Australia’s men’s cricketing calendar isn’t far off commencing and it looks more a marathon than a sprint, so mentally prepare accordingly.
Organisers have already copped a bit of flack for the 2023-24 match breakdown that’s been concocted, but there are always challenges and there’s no doubting there are still some mouthwatering elements.
The Aussie men’s group will take on two iconic cricketing outfits, but there’s no doubt the hosts will be expected to mount a clean sweep across the warmer months. It’s not quite as easy to book a cricketing powerhouse every summer these days, with more yearly scheduling challenges to face. But this year, particularly, was a mess, given Australia played India in the World Test Championship and then a full Ashes series in the UK.
Why it’s a unique summer cricket schedule in Australia
Unlike previous summers, where the Test series begins either in late November or early December, the scheduling has changed for first time in almost a century.
The opening Test will begin on December 14 and mark the latest start to a men’s Test summer since the Ashes in 1924.
Three One Day Internationals and T20s will round out the summer here and will perfectly cap off what is going to be a jam-packed calendar of cricket for the Australian side from now till then.
But the summer of cricket will be here in Australia before we know it, so here’s everything you need to know about the men’s cricket schedule this December-February.
Which touring nations make up Australia’s summer cricket schedule?
PAKISTAN & WEST INDIES
Back again for the second time in as many years, the West Indies return to Australia. They’ll take on the Aussies in all three formats. Due to somewhat of a mistake in the ICC’s Future Tours Program, the eighth ranked Test side has been forced to come back to Australia and will be hoping to put on a much better performance than last time, after being swept 3-nil.
But before the West Indies arrive, Australia will take on Pakistan for the first time down under since the pandemic, with the visitors last tour to Australia in 2019 ending with them losing both games at the Gabba and Adelaide Oval.
It will be a three-Test series this time around at all completely different venues, including the MCG for the famous Boxing Day Test and the Sydney Cricket Ground for the New Years Test.
Secure tickets for Australia’s summer cricket schedule
Cricket Australia has information to help fans secure tickets – click here to find out more.
Australia’s summer Test schedule
Pakistan Series | Summer cricket schedule
1st Test | Australia vs Pakistan | Perth Stadium | Dec 14-18
2nd Test | Australia vs Pakistan | MCG | Dec 26-30
3rd Test | Australia vs Pakistan | SCG | Jan 3-7
The standard five Test venues will be in rotation again in the 2023-24 summer, beginning with Australia taking on Pakistan at Perth Stadium in WA on December 14th.
West Indies Series | Summer cricket schedule
1st Test | Australia vs West Indies | Adelaide Oval | Jan 17-21
2nd Test | Australia vs West Indies | Gabba | Jan 25-29
This summer, the only day/night Test match is at the Gabba instead of the Adelaide Oval, which has become a very popular pink ball Test venue and prime bucks party mission!
The regretful January 26 decision | Summer cricket schedule
Controversially, Cricket Australia has scheduled this summer’s day-night Test match across January 26 (‘Australia Day’ to some); a surprising move from the cricketing body considering women’s superstar Ash Gardiner was so outspoken about their scheduling of a women’s ODI on the same day earlier this year.
CA has had more than enough time to read the room on this one.
Australia’s ODI summer cricket schedule
1st ODI | Australia vs West Indies | MCG | Feb 2
2nd ODI | Australia vs West Indies | SCG | Feb 4
3rd ODI | Australia vs West Indies | Manuka Oval | Feb 6
The three match ODI series against the West Indies will feature in two major cities and one at a smaller venue, Manuka Oval in the nation’s capital.
It is the one international match that will played in Canberra this summer.
Australia’s T20i summer cricket schedule
1st T20 | Australia vs West Indies | Blundstone Arena | Feb 9
2nd T20 | Australia vs West Indies | Adelaide Oval | Feb 11
3rd T20 | Australia vs West Indies | Perth Stadium | Feb 13
The T20s are also just against the West Indies and is a format the nation has a very strong history at being good at, winning the 2012 and 2016 World Cups.
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Australia’s Tour of New Zealand
1st T20 | New Zealand vs Australia | Sky Stadium, Wellington | February 21
2nd T20 | New Zealand vs Australia | Eden Park, Auckland | February 23
3rd T20 | New Zealand vs Australia | Eden Park, Auckland | February 25
1st Test | New Zealand vs Australia | Basin Reserve, Wellington | Feb 29 — March 4
2nd Test | New Zealand vs Australia | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | March 8-12
