The cricket calendar for 2007 is going to be quite crowded team India.
After the current 4 ODIs against Sri Lanka, India prepare to go to the World Cup.
The World Cup will see out March and April 2007.
In May, India play Bangladesh in 2 Tests and 3 ODIs. Clearly, this is nothing but an opportunity for the India players to shore up their averages before the year becomes gruelling again!
June appears to be an “off” month.
India will tour England from July to September to play 3 Tests and 7 ODIs. Playing 7 ODIs in England in a World Cup year — and that too, after the World Cup — seems a bit bizzarre to me! Nevertheless, that’s the plan.
In October, Australia visits India to play 7 ODIs.
India then hosts Pakistan for 3 Tests and 5 ODIs.
As a result of the Pakistan tour of India in November, the Indian tour to Australia from December through to March 2008 has been postponed by 3 weeks or so. In fact, while most previous tours of Australia have traditionally commenced in late-November, India’s tour of Australia in 2007-08 will probably only commence in the second week of December!
As a result, the 1st Test of the series will be the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne, with the 2nd Test starting immediately after the conclusion of the 1st Test (on 2 Jan 2008). Two other Tests follow in January. The ODI tournament — which also involves Sri Lanka — would commence only in February!
An article on this re-scheduling appears in the Sydney Morning Herald today.
A busy cricket calendar for Team India!
– Mohan
Mohan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments on my blog.
Not only is India's calender over the next two years busy, it is absurd.
There are absolutely no break times, and in the few days between series, the Board has tried to fit in additiona ODIs.
So, on our tour to England we play - Scotland, England ( 4 Tests 7 ODIs), Australia (3 ODIs) and Pakistan (3 ODIs).
This is preceeded by the Afro-Asia series and followed by the 20/20 WC.
Given the amount of cricket lined up for India in the coming two years, I wont be surprised if our players start dropping like flies and we end up with our U-15s playing.
Cheers