Aussie women to launch huge summer

Australia’s women’s team will again launch the international season this summer, with Meg Lanning’s side to host Sri Lanka in a series of limited-overs matches beginning in Sydney on September 29.

Cricket Australia today confirmed the 2019-20 home international fixtures, which will also see Australia play a T20 tri-series against England and India immediately prior to the start of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup – to be played on Australian soil for the first time – early next year.

The fixture also include men’s series against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and New Zealand.

The international season will begin with a T20 against Sri Lanka at North Sydney Oval on Sunday September 29, the day after the AFL Grand Final and a week before the climax of the NRL season, followed by two more T20Is at the same venue on September 30 and October 2.

The action then switches to the 50-over game, where Australia will meet the Sri Lankans in three ODIs at Brisbane’s Allan Border Field on October 5, 7 and 9.

Australia’s action-packed schedule for the coming year means the start of the Sri Lanka series will fall shortly after Lanning’s team return from an away tour of the Caribbean, expected to be played in early September, and will precede the start of the first standalone Rebel WBBL season, expected to begin in October.

The tri-series against England and India, three of the frontrunners for the T20 World Cup, will give Australia the best possible preparation to defend their world crown.

Games will be split between Manuka Oval in Canberra and Melbourne's Junctional Oval, beginning in the nation’s capital on January 31 when India meet England.

The second weekend of matches will be played in Melbourne, as will the series final on February 12.

All matches will be broadcast live on the Seven Network and Fox Cricket under CA’s broadcast rights deal.

The schedule for the T20 World Cup was unveiled earlier this year, with Australia to kick off the tournament with a blockbuster clash against India at Sydney’s Spotless Stadium on February 21.

The Aussies will then meet Sri Lanka at the WACA Ground (February 24), a qualifier at Manuka Oval (February 27) and New Zealand at Junction Oval (March 2).

Both semi-finals will be played at the SCG on March 5, ahead of the final at the MCG on March 8, a date that coincides with International Women's Day.

Australia took out the 2018 T20 World Cup title in the Caribbean last November, defeating England in the tournament decider, adding to the tournaments they won in 2010, 2012 and 2014.

The world’s top-ranked team will come into camp later this month at Brisbane’s Bupa National Cricket Centre to begin preparations for their upcoming Ashes tour of the United Kingdom in July, which will see them meet England in three ODIs, one Test and three T20Is in the multi-format, points-based series.

2019-20 International Women’s Fixtures

All start times subject to change, and listed in local time

Women's CommBank T20s v Sri Lanka

September 29: North Sydney Oval, 2.30pm

September 30: North Sydney Oval, 7pm

October 2: North Sydney Oval, 2pm

Women's CommBank ODIs v Sri Lanka

October 5: Allan Border Field, 10am

October 7: Allan Border Field, 10am

October 9: Allan Border Field, 10am

Women's CommBank T20 tri-series

January 31: India v England, Manuka Oval, 2.10pm

February 1: Australia v England, Manuka Oval, 2.10pm

February 2: Australia v India, Manuka Oval, 2.10pm

February 7: India v England, Junction Oval, 2.10pm

February 8: Australia v India, Junction Oval, 2.10pm

February 9: Australia v England, Junction Oval, 2.10pm

February 12: Tri-series Final, Junction Oval, 1.40pm

ICC Women’s T20 World Cup

February 21: Australia v India, Spotless Stadium

February 24: Australia v Sri Lanka, WACA Ground

February 27: Australia v Qualifier, Manuka Oval

March 2: Australia v New Zealand, Junction Oval

March 5: Semi-finals, SCG

March 8: Final, MCG

For full T20 World Cup fixtures click here