03-04

[piefan2002]

Perth to stage season opener, Sydney to host two Tests in season 2003-04

Perth will host the season opener, Sydney will stage two Tests and international
cricket will be played in October for the first time, the ACB announced today
with the release of the 2003-04 international cricket program.

The fixture, which reverts back to the preferred blocked Test and one-day
international format, sees Zimbabwe arrive on Australian shores in October for
the two-match 3 Test Series and India compete in December and January’s
four-match 3 Test Series.

The VB Series between Australia, India and Zimbabwe begins on 9 January 2004 at
the Melbourne Cricket Ground and finishes with the third final, if needed, at
the Gabba in Brisbane on 10 February 2004.

No international cricket will be played in Australia in November, with Australia
expected to take part in a tri-angular one-day international series in India.

The Australia A program has been reduced to one three-day match, against India
in Hobart in December, and two limited-over games against Zimbabwe in Perth and
Adelaide in January.

A date for the Allan Border Medal has not been confirmed at this stage.

The Australian domestic season schedule, including the Pura Cup, ING Cup and
other tour matches is expected to be released within the next two weeks. The
Australian women’s cricket schedule is expected to be confirmed within a month.

Season program (at 16 April 2003)

3 Test Series – Australia v Zimbabwe

October 9 – 13, First 3 Test Australia v Zimbabwe, Perth

October 17 – 21, Second 3 Test Australia v Zimbabwe, Sydney

3 Test Series – Australia v India

December 4 – 8, First 3 Test Australia v India, Brisbane

December 12 – 16, Second 3 Test Australia v India, Adelaide

December 26 – 30, Third 3 Test Australia v India, Melbourne

January 2 – 6, Fourth 3 Test Australia v India, Sydney

VB Series – Australia, Zimbabwe, India

January 9, First ODI Australia v India (D/N), Melbourne

January 11, Second ODI Australia v Zimbabwe (D/N), Sydney

January 14, Third ODI India v Zimbabwe, Hobart

January 16, Fourth ODI Australia v Zimbabwe, Hobart

January 18, Fifth ODI Australia v India (D/N), Brisbane

January 20, Sixth ODI India v Zimbabwe (D/N), Brisbane

January 22, Seventh ODI Australia v India (D/N), Sydney

January 24, Eighth ODI India v Zimbabwe (D/N), Adelaide

January 26, Ninth ODI Australia v Zimbabwe (D/N), Adelaide

January 29, Tenth ODI Australia v Zimbabwe (D/N), Melbourne

February 1, Eleventh ODI Australia v India, Perth

February 3, Twelfth ODI India v Zimbabwe (D/N), Perth

February 6, First Final (D/N), Melbourne

February 8, Second Final (D/N), Sydney

February 10, Third Final (D/N), if required, Brisbane

Other matches

October 1, Zimbabwe v Chairman’s XI, Perth

October 3 – 5, Zimbabwe v Western Australia, Perth

November 27 – 29, India v Victoria, Melbourne

December 1, India v PM’s XI, Canberra

December 19 – 21, India v Australia A, Hobart

January 1, Zimbabwe v Australia A, Perth

January 4, Zimbabwe v Western Australia (D/N), Perth

January 7, Zimbabwe v Australia A (D/N), Adelaide

NOTE: The ACB reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to change or amend
the official 2003-04 program without notice.

For more information, visit baggygreen.com.au.

 

[DaveW]

I'm happy with two Tests in Sydney. But the TCA must be spewing with Bellerive not getting a Test in a summer of six Tests. I see it's been made up for a little by Hobart getting two ODIs for the first time ever (and Sydney only getting two).

Originally posted by piefan2002
Zimbabwe arrive on Australian shores in October for the two-match 3 Test Series and India compete in December and January’s four-match 3 Test Series.

Did anyone else do a double take reading this? Why on earth did Orange change their name to a stupid numeral? What sort of a company name is "3"?

 

[piefan2002]

Same sponser who sponsers Essendon.

So we get that ugly '3' logo on the ground and uniforms, like Essendon

 

[CharlieG]

Re: Re: 03-04

Originally posted by DaveW
I'm happy with two Tests in Sydney. But the TCA must be spewing with Bellerive not getting a Test in a summer of six Tests. I see it's been made up for a little by Hobart getting two ODIs for the first time ever (and Sydney only getting two).

Did anyone else do a double take reading this? Why on earth did Orange change their name to a stupid numeral? What sort of a company name is "3"?

It had me completely befuddled until I worked out that it was the sponsor.

Grr... remember when the Aussies were the Aussies, rather than the Travelex Test Team or whatever it is they call it now?

 

[St-KriS]

Why on earth are they skipping Bellerive?! I thought the ACB were going to try to play more matches there, not less. Maybe that time during the past season where a match was cancelled because of the state of the pitch there at Bellerive has come back to haunt them?

 

[evfenton78]

The reason Hobart misses out on a Test is because Zimbabwe play two tests in early October. There is little chance of getting a decent wicket prepared in Tassie for October and then you need five good days of weather.

Hobart wouldn't get a Test against Inida in December ahead of SCG, MCG, Adelaide or Brisbane because the numbers just don't make sence to hold in in Hobart.

 

[scmods]

Re: Re: 03-04

Originally posted by DaveW

Did anyone else do a double take reading this? Why on earth did Orange change their name to a stupid numeral? What sort of a company name is "3"?

It took me a while to work it out, and realise that "3" must be the sponsor. I was just about to ask who the hell is "3", but it turns out apparently it's Orange (and I was never 100% sure exactly what it is they do).

What's Gilly going to do with his gloves now? Cut off a finger from each?

 

[St-KriS]

Bah...I hate seeing that No.3 on the bombers jumper and now I'm gunna see it on the bloody test teams shirts.

 

[EagleBlue]

Why the hell are the Aussies going to India for a meaningless ODI series in November. Cant understand that, 2 tests at home then fly to India for some one day games, then fly back home for 4 tests.

 

[wagstaff]

Originally posted by EagleBlue
Why the hell are the Aussies going to India for a meaningless ODI series in November. Cant understand that, 2 tests at home then fly to India for some one day games, then fly back home for 4 tests.

It was probably a negotiated deal between the boards of the two countries that India's cricketers would only travel to Australia on the proviso that they play meaningless one-dayers in India in a tournament that everybody will forget about a month later.

In a word: money.

 

[The Hippie]

Re: Re: 03-04

Originally posted by DaveW


Did anyone else do a double take reading this? Why on earth did Orange change their name to a stupid numeral? What sort of a company name is "3"?

Poor old Richie (or whoever does the into's these days). Can just see him now, "Ah, welcome to this, the Fourth Test of the '3' Test series." WTF???

Double takes from the audience all round.

 

[Goldenblue]

Re: Re: Re: 03-04

Originally posted by scmods
What's Gilly going to do with his gloves now? Cut off a finger from each?

hahaha!!



Love it!!

 

[raiderman00]

Feel sorry for the Tassies.

 

[carn_the_nmfc]

Essendon also have 3 as their sponsor.
MeThinks Orange have gone under

 

[Kenny_01]

Yeah the "3" had me confused as well.. only worked it out when I saw the actual schedule.

 

[GoEagles]

Will people be interested in cricket straight after the football season? To me we needed to stage the test matches in November and use October for the one day series in India (and also use the ING Cup games to wet everyones lips in Australia)

Is it me or does Melbourne seem dudded in the One Day Internationals? Don't they normally get 3 games + the 1st final, I noticed only 2 games + 1st final were scheduled... could it be due to the publicised crowd trouble at the MCG?

Good to see Perth got an Australia A fixture on the 1st January - should get a good crowd.

 

[The Passenger]

I'd take 2 tests and 2 one dayers any time over 1 test and 50 one dayers.

One dayers are a boring spectacle.

Can't wait to Sachin back out here again.

That whole 3 Test series crap is going to be so confusing. I looked at that and had no idea.

BTW, when is the Bangladesh test series in Cairns and Darwin?? Its around august/september isn't it??

 

[DaveW]

Originally posted by GoEagles

Is it me or does Melbourne seem dudded in the One Day Internationals? Don't they normally get 3 games + the 1st final, I noticed only 2 games + 1st final were scheduled... could it be due to the publicised crowd trouble at the MCG?

Not quite. Sydney and Melbourne used to get one of 3 prelim games + 1st final or 2 prelims games + 2nd & 3rd final. That would alternate each season. Then last season the 3rd final was given to Adelaide and Melbourne were just left with 2 prelim games + 2nd final. For Melbourne next season will be the same as last season.

The only are changes are Sydney losing a prelim game to Hobart (but gaining a test! ) and Brisbane getting Adelaide's 3rd final.

 

[DaveW]

Originally posted by Black Thunder

BTW, when is the Bangladesh test series in Cairns and Darwin?? Its around august/september isn't it??

Back to back tests in the second half of July.

 

[Lethal]

Originally posted by goaldrush
Essendon also have 3 as their sponsor.
MeThinks Orange have gone under

Ah no. Orange is still around, both are owned by Hutchinson Telecom. 3 is just there more advanced mobile phones, the ones with the video, etc.

 

[Bomber Spirit]

Having Tests in early October will be really weird. I doubt there'd have been any Shield games before the Tests start.
But 2 Tests in Sydney is great (but expensive) news for me. I doubt the October one will be particularly well attended (although it'll be bigger than they would have got in Hobart), but the 2 month gap between the 2 Test serieses will leave a huge break. November's going to be very quiet.

 

[scmods]

We'll have to pray for good weather in Perth for early October. That time of year, it could be fantastic or it could be bloody awful. Or a bit of both over the five days!

 

[Slax]

I have to wonder about the ACB and the basis for their decision making. Hobart have hosted and hosted successfully tests previously and rightly deserve a test if their is a 6th Test during the Australian summer. Hobart averages similar crowds to Perth when most countries and it just makes me wonder especially considering that the next Australian captain will be a Tasmanian.

I think it could just be that the ACB believe it could be to cold for them to take their wives for a holiday weekend.

 

[dr nick]

Originally posted by Slax
I have to wonder about the ACB and the basis for their decision making. Hobart have hosted and hosted successfully tests previously and rightly deserve a test if their is a 6th Test during the Australian summer. Hobart averages similar crowds to Perth when most countries and it just makes me wonder especially considering that the next Australian captain will be a Tasmanian.

I think it could just be that the ACB believe it could be to cold for them to take their wives for a holiday weekend.

i disagree. the crowds that turn up to bellerieve are a disgrace. they obviously do not follow their cricket as much as the other capital cities. to get such a sub 5000 crowds on day 1 of a test is a slap in the face i dont care what the population is, you'd get better crowds if they were held in Orange. far better to give test matches to audiences that appreciate them.

as for perth having similar crowds, IMO perth is heading the same way as bellerieve. im sure their crowds have dropped over previous years and if the perth public do not get behind test cricket then they don't deserve to have that test in preference to sydney or melbourne. having said that Perth's crowds are nowhere near as pitterful as Hobart's.

i said it about 5 years ago there will be a time where a five test series is played at brisbane, adelaide, melbourne, sydney, and the 5th one alternates between either melbourne or sydney. a 6 test series could see melbourne and sydney host 2 tests. the compromise could be to move one day games to the smaller cities, who seem to be into their pyjama cricket moreso.

another alternative would be to rotate the 5th or 6th test between Darwin, Perth, Canberra and Hobart.

 

[dr nick]

Bellerive:

2001-02 v NZ
Day 1 4429
Day 2 3663
Day 3 3306
Day 4 2837

1999-00 v Pak
Day 1 3447
Day 2 4206

1997-98 v NZ
Day 1 2150
Day 2 3055
Day 3 3665
Day 4 2592
Day 5 934


WACA:
2001-02 v NZ
Day 1 12731
Day 2 8850
Day 3 10061
Day 4 4053
Day 5 4836

and so on..... so it appears perth averages are better than i thought. Hobart crowds are ridiculous.