Cricket Australia have avoided a repeat of last year’s awkward scheduling for their Test stars, placing close to a two-week gap into the calendar before this summer’s Ashes.

Officials released their schedule for this summer on Sunday night, with no real surprises given the dates for the Ashes Tests were announced last December.

International cricket will return to Darwin for the first time in 17 years when Australia hosts South Africa in August.

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The two T20s will form part of a top-end tour, with Cairns and Mackay to also host T20s and ODIs after Darwin.

India will then arrive for five pre-scheduled T20s and three ODIs, before the Ashes begin in Perth on November 21.

A day-night Test at the Gabba follows that, before the series rounds out in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.

Women’s internationals have also been shunted out of the school-holiday window due to India’s WPL moving to January, in a blow for Cricket Australia.

It means Australia will be forced to host India in a multi-format series starting in mid-February, culminating in a day-night Test at the WACA from March 9.

The spread of international matches means 11 separate cities will host games, with cricket in all states and territories for the first time since 2008-09.

That in turn makes for a notable drop in both Melbourne and Sydney, with only three men’s or women’s internationals in both.

The figure of six games combined is the least in Australia’s two biggest capital cities since 1993-94, outside of COVID-impacted summers.

“We look forward to bringing international cricket to fans across the country with 11 cities and 14 venues hosting matches throughout the season including matches in every state and territory capital city for the first time in 17 years,” new Cricket Australia CEO Todd Greenberg said.

“We smashed many records for attendance, viewing audiences and digital engagement last summer and we’re confident that this incredible momentum will continue throughout what promises to be an engrossing season.”

The most notable change of all is the gap between the early-season men’s white-ball fixtures and Tests.

While Australia’s multi-format players were heavily criticised by former players for sitting out ODIs and T20s against Pakistan ahead of last summer’s Border-Gavaskar Trophy, there will likely be no need for that this year.

A 12-day gap exists between Australia’s last T20 against India in Brisbane on November 8, and the first Test against England in Perth.

Officials also expect Australia’s players should also be free for the second half of the BBL after the Ashes, likely able to play finals for the first time since 2019-20.

That will allow for a clear run into the end-of-summer T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, with Australia also set to play three T20s in Pakistan before that.

AUSTRALIA’S SUMMER OF CRICKET FIXTURE

MEN

T20s v South Africa

Aug 10, Marrara Stadium, Darwin

Aug 12: Marrara Stadium, Darwin

Aug 16: Cazalys Stadium, Cairns

ODIs v South Africa

Aug 19: Cazalys Stadium, Cairns

Aug 22: Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay

Aug 24: Great Barrier Reef Arena, Mackay

ODIs v India

Oct 19: Perth Stadium

Oct 23: Adelaide Oval

Oct 25: SCG

T20s v India

Oct 29: Manuka Oval

Oct 31: MCG

Nov 2: Bellerive Oval

Nov 6: Gold Coast Stadium

Nov 8: The Gabba

The Ashes

Nov 21-25: Perth Stadium

Dec 4-8: The Gabba (D/N)

Dec 17-21: Adelaide Oval

Dec 26-30: MCG

Jan 4-8: SCG

WOMEN

T20s v India

Feb 15: SCG

Feb 19: Manuka Oval

Feb 21: Adelaide Oval

ODIs v India

Feb 24: Allan Border Field

Feb 27: Bellerive Oval

March 1: Juntion Oval

Test v India

March 6-9: WACA (D/N)