India tour of Australia: Day-night Test returns, Perth to host series opener
The battle for the prestigious Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be played over 5 Tests for the first time since 1991-92. Cricket Australia announced the schedule for the series on Tuesday, March 26 and it features a day-night Test in Adelaide.
In Short
- India will play a 5-Test series against Australia for the 1st time since 1991-92
- Adelaide will host the only day-night Test of the series in December
- Perth will host the series opener from November 22 to 26
India will play the first of their much-anticipated 5-Test series in Australia in Perth from November 22 and the series will also feature a day-night Test between the two teams at the Adelaide Oval from December 6. Cricket Australia on Tuesday, March 26 announced the schedule for their home summer in 2024-25 which features the high-octane Border-Gavaskar Trophy series.
India will have their task cut out to make it a hat-trick of Test series wins in Australia as they begin the series in their least favourite venue in Perth. The pink-ball Test also returns for the first time since India's tour in 2020-21 and it will be played In Adelaide, the venue where the team collapsed for 36-all out before making a sensational comeback and winning the series.
India will play a day-night Test for the first time since March 2022 when they defeated Sri Lanka in Bengaluru. The hosts did not play day-night Tests in England, New Zealand and South Africa and avoided one in the recently-concluded 5-Test series against a Ben Stokes-led touring England side.
BORDER-GAVASKAR TROPHY = ASHES!
This will be the first time since 1991-92 that the Border-Gavaskar Trophy will be contested over 5 Tests. India defeated Australia 2-1 in 2018-19 and 2-1 in 2020-21 in 4-Test series Down Under. Notably, Australia have not managed to beat India in a Test series since 2014-15 season. However, Pat Cummins's men defeated India in the World Test Championship final in London in 2023.
"Fittingly, the Border-Gavaskar Trophy has been put on the same footing as the (men's) Ashes with a five-Test Series for the first time since 1991-92 and we're confident the schedule will maximise viewership and attendances and there will be a tremendous atmosphere in stadiums across the country," Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley said in a statement.
India's tour of Australia 2024-25 Schedule
First Test at Perth Stadium in Perth - November 22 to 26
Second Test at Adelaide Oval in Adelaide - December 6 to 10 (Day-Night)
Third Test at The Gabba in Brisbane - December 14 to 18
Fourth Test at the MCG in Melbourne - December 26 to December 30
Fifth Test at the SCG in Sydney - January 3 to January 7, 2025.
Meanwhile, India women will also tour Australia for a 3-match ODI series in December before Australia and England meet in the women's Ashes.
INDIA WOMEN TOUR OF AUSTRALIA
First ODI at Allan Border Field in Brisbane (D/N) - December 5
Second ODI at Allan Border Field in Brisbane (D) - December 8:
Third ODI at WACA Ground, Perth (D/N) - December - 11.