India Feature Big In 2014/15 Australian Summer

Sydney: Australia will play four Tests against India and one-day and Twenty20 series against South Africa, England and India ahead of hosting next year's World Cup.

Australia will get their Test series against India under way in Brisbane at the start of December with further Tests in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney

Australia's international season will start with a T20 series against South Africa in Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide. This will be followed by five ODIs played in Perth on two days, followed by Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney

Following the India Test series, Australia will play England and India in an one-day tri-series from January 16-February 1 ahead of the World Cup, which is staged in Australia and New Zealand and begins on February 14.

"The 2014-15 schedule looks very different to previous summers due in large part to the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 that we are co-hosting with New Zealand for the first time in 23 years," Cricket Australia chief James Sutherland said.

Reacting to the schedule, ECB chief David Collier released a statement where he said, "Following our seven-match ODI series in Sri Lanka before Christmas, this tour will provide further excellent preparation for the England team prior to the ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand. We look forward to an exciting and competitive series against two of the world's best teams in this format of the game and thank both Cricket Australia and BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) for their support in agreeing this schedule."

There was some controversy regarding the schedule when it was decided that the annual Australia Day match, normally played in Adelaide, was shifted to Sydney this summer. However, Sutherland said that the packed nature of the schedule and the fact that only four Tests were been played this summer compared to five or six meant some logistical challenges in the programmers.

The Adelaide Oval has been redeveloped and Sutherland said that there are exciting times ahead for the venue. "The new ground was partly completed last summer and we saw the potential of it this winter with football underway, and we’re very excited about the prospects of holding international cricket at the Adelaide Oval. I am sure fans from Adelaide but also, as traditionally, fans from all over the country will flock to what will be a big summer of cricket there."

The other change in the schedule will see Perth miss out on a Test match due to concerns regarding its ground facilities and size. Last September, speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Sutherland had said, "Though a traditional Test match venue with a proud history, the WACA ground has the smallest capacity of the five mainland Test venues and has historically attracted lower attendances. The WACA has been working hard to improve the facilities for its fans but it still requires significant improvements."

Full 2014/15 summer schedule

Australia v South Africa

November 5: 1st T20I, Adelaide

November 7: 2nd T20I, Melbourne

November 9: 3rd T20I, Stadium Australia, Sydney

November 14: 1st ODI, Perth

November 16: 2nd ODI, Perth

November 19: 3rd ODI, Manuka Oval, Canberra

November 21: 4th ODI, Melbourne

November 23: 5th ODI, Sydney

Australia v India schedule

November 24-25: 2-day tour match, Gliderol stadium, Glenelg

November 28-29: 2-day tour match, Adelaide

December 4-8: 1st Test, Brisbane

December 12-16: 2nd Test, Adelaide

December 26-30: 3rd Test, Melbourne

January 3-7: 4th Test, Sydney

Australia-India-England tri-series

January 16: Australia v India, Melbourne

January 18: Australia v England, Sydney

January 20: England v India, Brisbane

January 23: Australia v England, Hobart

January 26: Australia v India, Sydney

January 30: England v India, Perth

February 1: Final, Perth