Sydney, Dec 2 (IANS) Cricket Australia (CA) Tuesday revised the schedule for the One-Day International (ODI) tri-Series involving India, Australia and England. The series opener Jan 16 will now be played between the hosts and the English instead of the Indians at the Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG).
The earlier scheduled match that was to throw open the series between Australia and India will now be played Jan 18 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG), the CA said in a press statement.
The rescheduling of the ODI was warranted following postponement of the first of the four-match Test series against India to Dec 9.
The Test series, which was scheduled to start Dec 4 but was postponed due to Australian batsman Phillip Hughes' death Nov 27, will now begin in Adelaide instead of Brisbane.
"The change was necessary as the Indian players needed appropriate recovery time after the tour match which has been placed just after the Test match at Sydney and in the lead up to the first ODI Tri series match," Cricket Australia said.
CA also confirmed that the traditional Prime Ministers XI match against England at the Manuka Oval would remain unchanged and will be played Jan 14. However the England team would now play its tour match against an ACT XI Jan 12, which was previously scheduled against India at Drummoyne Oval, Sydney.
CA CEO James Sutherland said the board has tried to minimise the impact on the ODI series because of the recent rescheduling of the tests.
"In light of recent scheduling changes, we have attempted to minimise the impact on the ODI series," said Sutherland.
Revised dates for the ODI tri-Series
Jan 16: Australia v England at SCG (Changed from Jan 18)
Jan 18: Australia v India at MCG (Changed from Jan 16)
Jan 20: England v India at GABBA
Jan 23: Australia v England at Blundstone Arena
Jan 26: Australia v India at SCG
Jan 30: India v England at WACA, Perth
Feb 1: Final at WACA, Perth