India Not Keen On T20I Series Against Australia, Might Play ODIs In January

Cricket Australia (CA) recently became the first board to announce its 2020-21 season schedule, subjected to change. Australia’s 2020-21 season originally included Tests against India and Afghanistan along with ODIs against India, New Zealand and Zimbabwe and T20 Internationals against India, New Zealand and the West Indies.

The three-match T20I series against India is originally slated to take place in October. The tour opener will be played at the Gabba in Brisbane on October 11, followed by the second match taking place on October 14 at the Manuka Oval in Canberra and the final contest being played at the Adelaide Oval on the 17th.

India not willing to tour Australia twice in a year

Team India are not willing to tour Down Under twice in a year, given the novel coronavirus situation, according to a report in the Mumbai Mirror. It is primarily due to the two weeks isolation norm adopted for every touring team. India are not willing to undergo a two-week isolation for a one-week T20I series.

Thus, it is likely that India will push to accommodate with three-ODI, in December-January when they tour Australia for the four-match Tests series. The ODI series will be played after the conclusion of the Border-Gavaskar series.

Original schedule as of now (subjected to change)

First T20: October 11, the Gabba, Brisbane

Second T20: October 14, Manuka Oval, Canberra

Third T20: October 17, Adelaide Oval

Men’s Test Series v India

First Test: December 3-7, the Gabba, Brisbane

Second Test: December 11-15, Adelaide Oval (day-night)

Third Test: December 26-30, MCG

Fourth Test: January 3-7, SCG