Aditya
ICC Board Member
India In Australia - 2011, A Series Of Champions
After a horrible tour of England, the Indian team had critics to answer when England traveled to India to play 5 ODI's, 1 T20I and 2 Tests. The Indian team didn't disappoint their fans as they white washed the England team by beating them in all the ODI's, only T20I and the 2 tests. Next team to tour India was, West Indies. All the big players were rested for the ODI's and yet again, the youngsters were given a chance. They didn't disappoint the selectors as the West Indies team was beaten in the ODI's 4-1. In the test matches, all the big players returned to international cricket and the West Indies team was badly beaten in both the tests. Sehwag managed to make one century in the two test matches. Dravid continued his great form from the England tour as he made two centuries in two test matches. Tendulkar though, proved to be a big disappointment as he didn't even manage to make a fifity and that magical figure on hundred hundreds needed to wait a bit more. Laxman played fine, made 30's and 40's and one century.
After two good tours, the Indian team is high on confidence but on the other hand, Australian team didn't do too badly in the last two tours they have played. Australian team went to South Africa to play 2 T20I, 3 ODI's and 2 Tests. The T20I series was tied 1-1. The ODI series yet again was a close won but Australia managed to win the last ODI by 15 runs and won the ODI series 2-1. The test series though, was won by South Africa 2-0. Australian team just didn't look good in the test matches. Their fielding was poor, their bowlers were not bowling well and some of their batsmen were just not able to play the big innings. Though, their ex skipper, Ricky Ponting was in excellent form throughout the series. Ponting made 2 centuries in the ODI series and 1 hundred in the test series. So, surely this legend is in form and can be dangerous for the Indian team because we all know that if Ponting continues his good form against India, the Indian bowlers are gonna have a tough time in Australia.
After the test matches and the T20I, the next to follow will be a triangular series between Australia, India and Sri Lanka. Sri Lanka's last two tours have also been very impressive. They had a series against Pakistan in UAE. They played, 3 Tests, 5 ODI's and only T20I. Sri Lanka won the tests series 1-0 but lost the ODI series 3-2. They even lost the only T20I. Now, the next tour was important for them as the Pakistan tour didn't went too well for them. Sri Lanka's next tour was of South Africa. They were going to South Africa to play this series and as we know beating South Africa in their home conditions can be a tricky task but Sri Lanka played some good cricket. There were no T20I's on this series and so they were playing 3 tests and 5 ODI's. The test series was won by Sri Lanka, beating the South African team 2-1. Kallis was injured for the test series and this really costed the South African team. The ODI series was a tight one but Sri Lanka yet again played some good cricket and beat the South African team 2-1 with two games washed out.
So, this means that the test series is sure to be exciting but the ODI series isn't gonna be bad either, it surely gonna be tremendously exciting. All the three teams have played some really good cricket over the last few months. This series is surely gonna be exciting! This is a series of champions! First up to follow is the test series between Australia and India.
Series Fixture
Test Series
December 26 - 30: Australia v India, Melbourne
January 3 - 7: Australia v India, Sydney
January 13 - 17: Australia v India, Perth
January 24 - 28: Australia v India, Adelaide
Twenty20 Internationals
February 1: Australia v India, 1st Twenty20, Sydney
February 3: Australia v India, Melbourne
Limited Overs Series
February 5: Australia v India, Melbourne
February 8: India v Sri Lanka, Perth
February 10: Australia v Sri Lanka, Perth
February 12: Australia v India, Adelaide
February 14: India v Sri Lanka, Adelaide
February 17: Australia v Sri Lanka, Sydney
February 19: Australia v India, Brisbane
February 21: India v Sri Lanka, Brisbane
February 24: Australia v Sri Lanka, Hobart
February 26: Australia v India, Sydney
February 28: India v Sri Lanka, Hobart
March 2: Australia v Sri Lanka, Melbourne
March 4: 1st Final, Brisbane
March 6: 2nd Final, Adelaide
March 8: 3rd Final, Adelaide
Tour matches
December 18 - 21, New South Wales v India, Melbourne
Credits to Zax for the brilliant logos
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