Cricket Australia (CA) on May 28 announced that India 'A' will play two first-class games against Australia 'A' ahead of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25. The two games will be played at the Great Barrier Reef Arena in Mackay and the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The first game will be played from October 31 to November 3. The second game will be from November 3 to November 7.
These matches will be an opportunity for players who are not involved (at that time) in other formats to show their mettle and make a case for selection. Players like Sarfaraz Khan, Dhruv Jurel, Hanuma Vihari and others may feature in the two-game series. Similarly, for Australia, players like Todd Murphy, Scott Boland may feature in the series as well.
"Hosting those A matches at the upgraded Great Barrier Reef Arena and the MCG give these 'A' matches significant status and will provide great opportunities to players from both sides to put up their hand for selection," said Peter Roach, CA Head of Cricket Operations and Scheduling.
Before the marquee Test series begins, the senior Indian side will play a three-day intra-squad match at the WACA Ground from November 17. The last time India toured Australia for Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2020-21, they played warm-up matches against Australia A.
Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2024-25 schedule
The five-Test series will begin on November 22 at Optus Stadium, Perth. It will be followed by a pink-ball Test at Adelaide Oval starting December 6. The Test series will end at the Sydney Cricket Ground. The last Test is scheduled to start from January 3.
Women’s ODI series to go on simultaneously
"To have that (the series) running simultaneously with the women's ODIs and preceded by two significant Australia A v India A matches will be terrific for our fans," Roach added.
Meanwhile, India Women will be touring reigning World Champions Australia for a three-ODI series. The first two ODIs will be played at Allan Border Field, Brisbane on December 5 and 8 respectively. The last ODI of the series will be played at WACA Ground, Perth on December 11.
MORE ON SPORTS TAK:
