/ 3 July 2003

India to host down under tri-series

New Zealand will play two Test matches in India later this year before being joined by world champions Australia for a high-profile limited-overs series.

The Kiwis, who are to arrive in India on September 23, will play two three-day matches before the back-to-back Tests in Mohali and Kanpur from October 8.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will decide later whether Mohali or Kanpur will host the first Test from October 8 to 12.

Australia, in a rare break from their home season, will travel to India in late October for the 27-day tri-series. Each team will play the other three times in the league with the top two advancing to the final at Calcutta’s Eden Gardens on November 18. India’s six league matches will all be day-night games.

India will then embark on a full tour of Australia, which involves four Test matches and a one-day series also featuring Zimbabwe.

India and Australia contested the World Cup final in March in which Ricky Ponting’s side beat the Indians by 125 runs at Johannesburg. – Sapa-AFP