Cricket Australia has confirmed Sydney will host next summer’s New Year’s Test against Pakistan, but the marquee fixture remains under threat from rival states.
Australia will look to retain the Benaud-Qadir Trophy next summer, facing Pakistan in a three-Test series that concludes at the SCG on January 3-7.
Earlier this year, the South Australian Cricket Association attempted to poach the New Year’s fixture from Sydney after the third Test between Australia and South Africa ended as a washout.
Watch every match of the 2023 IPL LIVE & On-Demand with Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Six of the seven most recent SCG Tests have been interrupted by rain, with four of those matches ending as draws — 64 per cent of Test cricket days in Sydney over the past eight years have experienced rain.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, CA chair Mike Baird has contacted the newly-elected NSW government to discuss the value of the New Year’s Test to the state, while CA head of operations Peter Roach could not guarantee that forthcoming New Year’s Tests will be scheduled in Sydney.
“We are always looking at ways to optimise our schedule for the benefit of all Australian cricket, which is why we are working on a longer-term content strategy,” Roach told the publication.
“The strong interest around the country in hosting major cricket matches is an indication of the enormous appeal of Australia’s national sport and of the enduring love of Test cricket in particular.”
Last week, the SACA announced it had “locked-in December Tests against India in 2024 and England in 2025”, suggesting the New Year’s Test would remain in Sydney for at least the next three summers, but the organisation is expected to continue pushing for the coveted January timeslot.
The South Australian government has been aggressive in its pursuit for marquee sporting events over the past few years, including the AFL’s Gather Round and LIV Golf.
Meanwhile, Australian all-rounder and proud Muruwari woman Ash Gardner has expressed her disappointment after next summer’s Brisbane Test was scheduled on Australia Day.
Earlier this year, Gardner voiced her concerns about playing cricket on January 26, which she labelled a “day of hurt and mourning” for the Indigenous community.
The second Test between Australia and the West Indies, a day-night fixture at the Gabba, will take place from January 25-29 — it will be the Queensland capital’s first pink-ball Test in five years.
“For this to happen again but just to the men’s side … I guess there’s certainly disappointment around it,” Gardner told The Daily Telegraph.
“I just don’t understand why this one day of the year – which is a day of mourning, which doesn’t have a very good history of what happened on that day, that there needs to be cricket.”
The 2023/24 international summer of cricket kicks off with a women’s T20I between Australia and the West Indies at North Sydney Oval on October 1 — the same day as the NRL Grand Final.
Although the 20-over contest will conclude hours before the NRL season finale, Australian vice-captain Alyssa Healy confessed the scheduling was less than ideal.
“It could be (a problem), maybe we might get washed out a little bit in that,” Healy told AAP.
“But in saying that, it’s the start of the cricket summer. So hopefully that is spoken about that week.”
2023-24 SUMMER OF INTERNATIONAL CRICKET
Women’s T20I Series vs West Indies
1 October: North Sydney Oval, Sydney
2 October: North Sydney Oval, Sydney (N)
5 October: Allan Border Field, Brisbane (N)
Women’s ODI Series vs West Indies
8 October: Allan Border Field, Brisbane
12 October: Junction Oval, Melbourne
15 October: Junction Oval, Melbourne
Women’s T20I Series vs South Africa
27 January: Manuka Oval, Canberra
28 January: Manuka Oval, Canberra
30 January: Blundstone Arena, Hobart (N)
Women’s ODI Series vs South Africa
3 February: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (D/N)
7 February: North Sydney Oval, Sydney (D/N)
10 February: North Sydney Oval, Sydney (D/N)
Women’s Test Match vs South Africa
15-18 February: WACA Ground, Perth
Men’s Test Series v Pakistan
14-18 December: Perth Stadium, Perth
26-30 December: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne
3-7 January: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney
Men’s Test Series vs West Indies
17-21 January: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
25-29 January: The Gabba, Brisbane (D/N)
Men’s ODI Series vs West Indies
2 February: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (D/N)
4 February: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (D/N)
6 February: Manuka Oval, Canberra (D/N)
Dettol Men’s T20I Series vs West Indies
9 February: Blundstone Arena, Hobart (N)
11 February: Adelaide Oval, Adelaide (N)
13 February: Perth Stadium, Perth
Tour Matches
28 September: NSW Women vs West Indies Women, Wilson Park, Sydney
6-9 December: PMs XI Men vs Pakistan, Manuka Oval, Canberra
10-13 January: CA XI vs West Indies, Karen Rolton Oval, Adelaide
24 January: Governor-General’s XI vs South Africa, North Sydney Oval, Sydney