Huge treat in store for cricket fans

Cricketing buffs around the world will be looking forward to some enthralling and absorbing cricket for the next one month. There are a host of matches and series lined up for all religious cricket followers involving some of the best cricketing nations. The top six cricketing nations of the world continue their commitments according to the ICC Future Tours Program. We look at all the series’ scheduled to be played out in the next few weeks.

India vs England

After a disastrous tour of England wherein they failed to win a single match, India will be eager to take revenge when they host the Englishmen for a five match ODI series and single T20 international.

Last ODI series at home- India trounced England by 5-0 in a seven match series in 08-09 which was cut short by the Mumbai terrorist attack.

Current ICC ODI Ranking- India is ranked fifth with a rating of 112 while England occupies the fourth position with one rating point more than India.

Schedule:

Oct 14- 1st ODI, HyderabadOct 17- 2nd ODI, New DelhiOct 20- 3rd ODI, MohaliOct 23- 4th ODI, MumbaiOct 25- 5th ODI, Kolkata

Oct 29- Only T20I, Eden Gardens, Kolkata

Note: All matches are D/N

South Africa vs Australia

Australia will travel to South Africa after a long gap of 6 years, which was also their last bilateral series. These two arch-rivals will be itching to come out on top in this highly competitive tour. The Aussies are scheduled to play two T20I’s, 3 ODI’s and 2 Tests.

Australia’s last tour of South Africa in 2005-06- Australia thumped the South Africans 3-0 in the test series while the home team edged the men from down under 3-2 in the 5 match One-day series.

Current ICC Rankings- Australia are the No. 1 ranked team in ODI’s while SA are placed at the No. 3 spot. Australia trails the Proteas, who are ranked second, by 2 positions in the test chart.

Schedule:

Oct 13, 1st T20I, Cape Town (D/N)Oct 16, 2nd T20I, Johannesburg

Oct 19, 1st ODI, CenturionOct 23, 2nd ODI, Port ElizabethOct 28, 3rd ODI, Durban

Nov 9-13, 1st Test, Cape TownNov 17-21, 2nd Test, Johannesburg

Note: All ODI’s are D/N

Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

The persistent reluctance on part of all cricketing nations to tour Pakistan owing to security fears means that Pakistan will continue to play their ‘home’ fixtures in the United Arab Emirates. The host the Sri Lankans for a month long tour which features matches of all three formats of the game.

The last time that Pakistan hosted the Lankans was in 08/09 when unfortunately the Lankan team bus was attacked by a group of terrorists.

Current ICC Rankings: Pakistan is ranked sixth best in both the formats while Sri Lanka is ranked fifth in tests and an impressive second in ODI’s.

Schedule:

Oct 18-22, 1st Test, Abu DhabiOct 26-30, 2nd Test, DubaiNov 3-7, 3rd Test, Sharjah

Nov 11, 1st ODI, DubaiNov 14, 2nd ODI, DubaiNov 18, 3rd ODI, DubaiNov 20, 4th ODI, SharjahNov 23, 5th ODI, Abu Dhabi

Nov 25, Only T20I, Abu Dhabi

Note: All LOI matches are D/N