India's multi-format tour of Australia to start on September 19; WACA to host pink-ball Test

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India to tour Australia, New Zealand around the turn of the year

Indian players celebrating an Aussie wicket during 2017 World Cup. ©ICC

The pink-ball Test between Australia and India will be played at the WACA in Perth from September 30 to October 3, Cricket Australia announced on Thursday (May 20). It will be only the second day/night Test in the women’s game, with the Ashes in 2017 featuring the first one. It will be the first time in 15 years that the two sides engage in Test cricket. The dates of the multi-format tour were also revealed.



India’s tour to Australia will begin on September 19 with three-game ODI series followed by the Test match. While the North Sydney Oval will play host to the first ODI, the next two will be played at the Junction Oval in Melbourne. After the Test in Perth, the teams will return to the Junction Oval to compete in the three-match T20I series, with the final match on the tour to be played on October 11.



“We are thrilled to welcome the tours of Australia’s greatest rivals, India and England, for separate multi-format tours this summer,” said Nick Hockley, CEO of Cricket Australia.



“The Australian women’s team has gone from strength-to-strength since their record-breaking T20 World Cup win at the MCG, including extending their record unbeaten ODI streak to 24 matches, and these series will provide yet another great challenge for Meg Lanning’s squad.”



The last time Australia and India clashed was in the final of the Women’s T20 World Cup last year, which the hosts won at the MCG.



“There is no doubt that T20 cricket has been, and will continue to be, a key driver of growth for women’s cricket globally,” said Hockley.



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“That said, it is testament to how far the game has come that we are in a position to host two women’s Test matches against the might of India and England, which we know will prove popular with cricket-lovers right around the world.”



"The men’s Test series against India last season was an extremely competitive series that came down to the wire and we have no doubt that this women’s multi-format series will be just as hard fought. We look forward to welcoming members of the India women’s team to Australia after what has been an incredibly challenging time and thank the BCCI for supporting this ground-breaking tour.”



The upcoming Test will be only the fifth women's Test in Perth. While WACA has hosted three before, the Hale School ground has played host to a game.



"We are thrilled to be hosting India at the WACA Ground under lights," said Christina Matthews, the WACA CEO.



“India is such an entertaining side to watch, we got to see them here last here year during the T20 World Cup and I can guarantee West Aussie’s will be in for an exciting match. The WACA Ground has a rich history and this match will be another great iconic moment to add to that, it will show the world how important the ground still is to international cricket."



Australia also announced the schedule for the multi-format Ashes series early next year, with the Test to be played in Canberra.
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