New Perth stadium likely to host first Test between India and Australia
The new Perth Stadium is reportedly ready to host its first ever Test between Australia and India in late November or early December. The ground will be officially open for play on January 28 with the ODI game between Australia and England as it failed to host the third Ashes Test last month.
As per the sources, Cricket Australia aiming to launch the Test at new Perth Stadium with a high clash between the Kangaroos and India in front of 60,000 spectators. The first Test of the four-match series which will be scheduled in late November or early December, played on a drop-in wicket in the search of to replicate the pace and bounce of the WACA’s pitch.Â
The second Test will be hosted by Adelaide and Cricket Australia wanted to continue the tradition of playing a day-night game on the ground. However, BCCI didn’t show much interest in the concept earlier and the day-night Test might depend on their consent as well.
"I would anticipate there's not going to be too much problem there," James Sutherland, the CA chief executive, told the ABC last month over the possibility of a day-night Test against India as quoted by Cricbuzz.
The much-awaited series will end with Tests played on Boxing Day and New Year to be played in Melbourne and Sydney respectively. It is expected that in the next month Cricket Australia will announce the itinerary for their next Australian summer for the 2018-19 season.
Sri Lanka will also visit Australia in mid-January for a two-Test series and the first game will be hosted by Canberra. Apart from that, Australia could play a Test series against Pakistan in the UAE before the start of their 2018-19 home summer.