The upcoming India’s tour of Australia in 2024-25 is all set to commence on November 22 at the Perth Stadium in Perth, with the first Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, as confirmed by Cricket Australia. India, the only team to achieve back-to-back Test series victories in Australia, will kick off their tour in Perth for the first time. In the preceding tours, the opening Test of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was traditionally held at the Adelaide Oval. However, this time, Adelaide will host the second Test as a Day-Night encounter from December 6 to 10. Following that, the third Test is slated to begin on December 14 at the Gabba in Brisbane. The MCG in Melbourne and SCG in Sydney will continue to be the venues for the Boxing Day Test and the New Year’s Test, respectively.
The noticeable gap between the first and second Tests has been intentional, with reports suggesting that the BCCI aims to organize a practice match with the pink ball to acclimate the players before the Adelaide Test. India’s tough pink ball Test experience was evident in their historic low score of 36 all out in the second innings of their previous pink ball Test in Adelaide.
Australia’s decision to select Perth as the venue for the first Test is backed by their exceptional track record at the new Perth Stadium, having won all four matches played there. In the last series, India emerged victorious with a 2-1 win, including a memorable victory at the Gabba. Peter Roach, CA’s head of scheduling, highlighted that Perth and Brisbane are the preferred venues for the Australian team due to the challenging pitches they offer, making it tough for visiting teams. He emphasized the advantage of starting the series strongly in venues where the team feels comfortable.
Peter Roach also mentioned that the Australian team values playing day-night Tests in Adelaide, considering it as a significant advantage based on conclusive statistics. With a strong Indian team led by Rohit Sharma, including star players like Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, and Rishabh Pant, a packed stadium is anticipated at Perth. Outgoing Western Australia Cricket CEO Christina Matthews expects a crowd of 30-35,000 on the first day of the Test match. She stressed the importance of securing scheduling slots in advance for effective planning and organization, regardless of whether Perth hosts the first or third Test each season.
