da spicy bet： The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today confirmed that it will host athree-match one-day international series between Australia and Indiaon 21, 23 and 26 September in Melbourne and Brisbane
27-Jun-2001The Australian Cricket Board (ACB) today confirmed that it will host athree-match one-day international series between Australia and Indiaon 21, 23 and 26 September in Melbourne and Brisbane.The Melbourne fixtures will take place at the Colonial Stadium onFriday, September 21 and Sunday, September 23, and on Wednesday.September 26 at the Gabba in Brisbane.The series follows on from last year’s history making tournamentbetween Australia and South Africa, which saw international cricketplayed indoors for the first time.ACB Chief Executive Officer Malcolm Speed said that the series willbuild on the success of last year’s event.”The success of Super Challenge 2000 has paved the way for moreinternational cricket out of the traditional summer season. ColonialStadium is now a proven venue for cricket, while the warmer climate atthe Gabba in Queensland provides us with an alternative to take theseries to other parts of Australia.”Australia and India had a terrific battle in India earlier in theyear and Super Challenge 2001 will give Australian cricket followersthe chance to enjoy the rivalry between these two teams,” Speed said.Australian captain Steve Waugh said that he was looking forward to theseries.”It’s going to be great for the boys to play on home soil again aftertours to India and the UK and the event should prove an excellentstart to the new season.”Super Challenge 2000 was a superb and innovative event that was agreat experience to be involved in. The matches against India, both atthe Colonial Stadium and at the Gabba promise to be an equallyimpressive spectacle, especially after the high-quality and closelyfought cricket the two sides produced in India last autumn.”I know some of the players, like myself, have family commitmentsaround that time and that’s a difficult situation, but both sides, theACB and the players, understand the other’s point of view. I’m happywe’ve been able to reach an amicable solution that means Australiawill field the strongest side available,” Waugh said.In order to prepare Colonial Stadium for Super Challenge, the ACB willagain use a “drop-in” pitch to make the transition from an AFL groundto a surface suitable for international cricket. The pitch will bedeveloped off-site, using similar technology to last year’s event.The Brisbane Lions Australian Football Club, who play at the Gabbahave agreed to move any training session they have scheduled for theground, should it coincide with the Super Challenge event on September26. The Lions would only be training on this date should they winthrough to the AFL Grand Final.Speed said he was very appreciative of the Lions’ support. “I wouldlike to thank the Lions for their flexibility in allowing the ACB totake Super Challenge to the people of Queensland,” he said.The Nine Network will televise the series in Australia. Ticketingdetails, sponsorship and overseas television arrangements will beannounced in due course.