Team India's Tour of Australia kicksoff from Dec 26

Sydney, Apr 19 (UNI) Team India will kickstart its Tour of Australia to wrest the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with the traditional Boxing Day test in Melbourne on December 26 followed by three more Tests, a twenty20 match and a 15-match tri-series featuring hosts Australia India and Sri Lanka.

The money-spinner Boxing Day Test in Melbourne becomes the first match of the series against India (Dec 26-30), followed by Sydney (Jan 2-6), Perth (Jan 16-20) and Adelaide (Jan 24-28).

The CB tri-series involving India and Sri Lanka starts on February 3 in Brisbane with the best-of-three finals on March 2 (Sydney), 4 (Brisbane) and 7 (Adelaide).

The unusual schedule, announced by Cricket Australia today, has been caused partly by the inaugural Twenty20 world championship in South Africa in September, which means Pakistan's tour of India has been put back to November.

Hectic times are ahead for Ricky Ponting's side as they have a seven-match one-day tour of India scheduled shortly before the two Test match home series against Sri Lanka which starts on November 8.

Australia's two Tests against Sri Lanka are in Brisbane on November 8-12 and Hobart on November 16-20.

Australia is also hosting the annual Chappell-Hadlee Series against New Zealand in Adelaide, Sydney and Hobart on December 14, 16 and 20, preceded by a Twenty20 International against Sri Lanka in Perth on December 11.

Confirming Cricket Australia's commitment to take the Australian men's and women's teams to as many fans around the country as possible, every State and Territory will host at least one international match in the coming year.

Cricket Australia General Manager Cricket Operations, Michael Brown, said the Australian men are determined to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy won in India and to regain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy held by New Zealand.

''Our competitors' global cricket commitments in a world where so many cricket nations are based in the southern hemisphere and play at the same time of year create challenges for cricket scheduling,'' he said.

''Despite these challenges, we are pleased we have been able to offer cricket fans extensive opportunities to see the world's top cricketers throughout next summer,'' he said.

A second KFC Twenty20 international has been added to the schedule, with two matches to be played over the course of the season.

Australia will play New Zealand in Perth prior to the Commonwealth Bank Chappell-Hadlee Trophy in December and will then face India in Melbourne in February; the first KFC Twenty20 internationals for both cities.

Traditional elements which highlight each summer have been maintained. The marquee Boxing Day and New Year's Tests will be the first two matches in the mobile Test Series versus India, while the custom of the Australian team playing in Adelaide over the Australia Day period has been retained.

This year however, instead of a Commonwealth Bank Series one-day international being played on Australia Day, the fourth 3 mobile Test against India will be contested in Adelaide at that time.

3 mobile Test Series : Dec 26-30 Australia v India (Melbourne) Jan 2-6 Australia v India (Sydney) Jan 16-20 Australia v India (Perth) Jan 24 28 Australia v India (Adelaide) KFC Twenty20 International : Feb 1 Australia v India (Melbourne) Commonwealth Bank Series : Feb 3 Australia v India (Brisbane) Feb 5 Sri Lanka v India (Brisbane) Feb 8 Australia v Sri Lanka (Sydney) Feb 10 Australia v India (Melbourne) Feb 12 Sri Lanka v India (Canberra) Feb 15 Australia v Sri Lanka (Perth) Feb 17 Australia v India (Adelaide) Feb 19 Sri Lanka v India (Adelaide) Feb 22 Australia v Sri Lanka (Melbourne) Feb 24 Australia v India (Sydney) Feb 26 Sri Lanka v India (Hobart) Feb 29 Australia v Sri Lanka (Melbourne) Mar 2 First Final (Sydney) Mar 4 Second Final (Brisbane) Mar 7 Third Final (if required - Adelaide) UNI XC SAM RN1159