GABBA TO HOST SOUTH AFRICA |
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Thursday 19 July 2012 Brisbane will host South Africa in a Test match for the first time in 49 years when the Proteas take on Australia at the Gabba in the opening international match of the summer in 114 days time. The opening Vodafone Test match of the season will be the first time South Africa have graced the Gabba in a Test since December 1963, when Australia was led by Richie Benaud and a young South African left-hander by the name of Graeme Pollock was making his Test debut. The Gabba will book-end the 2012-13 International season, with the South African Test from 9-13 November starting the contests and a KFC T20 International between Australia and the West Indies on Wednesday 13 February bringing down the curtain on 43 days of international cricket. The summer includes a pair of three-match Vodafone Test Series, twin five-game Commonwealth Bank Series and three KFC T20 INTLS. Tickets will go on sale on Thursday 4 October starting with a priority period offering discounted tickets for members of the Australian Cricket Family (ACF). ACF members will have access to some of the best seats in the house and discounted ticket prices for seven days before general public sales open on 11 October. General public sales will include tickets for both international and KFC T20 Big Bash League matches. The action starts in just 114 days at the Gabba, with Brisbane hosting current second-ranked Test nation South Africa. In a departure from recent seasons, the Test will start on Friday rather than a Thursday. The Brisbane Cricket Ground will also host the Commonwealth Bank One Day International between Australia and Sri Lanka on Friday 18 January. Acting Queensland Cricket Chief Executive Officer Andrew Blucher said the prospect of a strong Australian team up against South Africa, as well as international crowd pleasers Sri Lanka and the West Indies was a boon for Brisbane and for Queensland. “There wouldn’t be many people around who could say they had seen South Africa play a Test in Brisbane so there is a whole new generation of fans that will now have the chance to see one of the genuine heavyweight clashes in Test cricket in virtually their own backyard,’’ he said. “The opening Test of the summer is traditionally a big event in Queensland and we’re very excited about having Australia host South Africa here at that time of the year,’’ Blucher said. “Having a KFC T20 International against the West Indies will be the icing on the cake for us, as it wasn’t too many years ago that the Gabba crowd record of just a tick under 40,000 was set for a T20 between Australia and South Africa. “Coming off the back of what we expect to be a fantastic Big Bash League involving the Brisbane Heat and there is a lot to like about the summer.†“And we’re very pleased to welcome Sri Lanka back to Brisbane. They have played a number of times at the Gabba in recent seasons and not only are they one of the world’s best limited overs teams; they are wonderful ambassadors for the game and are always popular visitors,†Blucher said. All international matches will be broadcast in Australia on the Nine Network, ABC Radio and Vodafone mobile devices, with daily highlights shown on FOX SPORTS. Australia’s summer of international cricket is also broadcast around the world by Cricket Australia’s key international partners ESPN Star Sports (Asia), SKY Sport (New Zealand), SuperSport (South Africa) and Willow TV (United States and Canada). Cricket.com.au will have all the live scores, as well as behind the scenes action on CATV or via Vodafone’s iPhone mobile application ‘Cricket Live’. Australian Cricket Family Joining the Australian Cricket Family is free and membership offers the exclusive opportunity to buy some of the best seats in the house before they go on general sale. ACF membership also provides access to discounted tickets (compared to pre-purchase and at-the-gate ticket prices), and is the best way for fans to guarantee they have a great view of the action. Fans have until 11.59pm (AEST) on 1 October 2012 to register for the ACF and qualify for access to the priority ticketing period and other membership benefits. The ACF website is found at: www.cricket.com.au/fans/australian-cricket-family Tickets on Sale Thursday 4 October – 9am ACF Gold Priority Period opens (International Cricket only) Thursday 4 October – 5pm ACF Gold Priority Period closes Friday 5 October – 9am ACF Priority Period opens (International Cricket only) Wednesday 10 October – 5pm ACF Priority Period closes Thursday 11 October – 9am General Public sales open (International Cricket and BBL single match tickets) Note: A Gold member is any ACF member who has bought tickets to international cricket via the ACF priority period in two of the past three years. Cricket Australia Travel Office Fans interested in travel packages are encouraged to contact the Cricket Australia Travel Office (CATO) via its website: www.cricket.com.au/travel. 2012-13 International Fixture Visit http://www.cricket.com.au/fixtures for full Cricket Australia Fixtures Vodafone Test Series 9 – 13 November Australia v South Africa Gabba 22 – 26 November Australia v South Africa Adelaide Oval 30 Nov – 4 December Australia v South Africa WACA Ground 14 – 18 December Australia v Sri Lanka Blundstone Arena, Bellerive 26 – 30 December Australia v Sri Lanka MCG 3 – 7 January Australia v Sri Lanka SCG Commonwealth Bank Series v Sri Lanka 11 January Australia v Sri Lanka MCG 13 January Australia v Sri Lanka Adelaide Oval 18 January Australia v Sri Lanka Gabba 20 January Australia v Sri Lanka SCG 23 January Australia v Sri Lanka Blundstone Arena, Bellerive KFC T20 INTLs v Sri Lanka 26 January Australia v Sri Lanka Sydney Olympic Park 28 January Australia v Sri Lanka MCG Commonwealth Bank Series v West Indies 1 February Australia v West Indies WACA Ground 3 February Australia v West Indies WACA Ground 6 February Australia v West Indies Manuka Oval 8 February Australia v West Indies SCG 10 February Australia v West Indies MCG KFC T20 INTL v West Indies 13 February Australia v West Indies Gabba Tour matches 2 – 4 November Australia A v South Africa Sydney 6 – 8 December CA Chairman’s XI v Sri Lanka Manuka Oval TBC PM’s XI v West Indies Manuka Oval * Note: Schedule current as at 19 July 2012. Cricket Australia reserves the right in its absolute discretion to change or amend the international program at any time, without notice. |
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