The seven-match multi-format home series between Australia's women and India will be played in Queensland, due to the COVID-19 lockdowns and restrictions across the country.
Key points:
- The matches were initially scheduled for Sydney, Melbourne and Perth but have been moved due to COVID concerns
- Australia will play India for the first time since the T20 World Cup final at the MCG last year
- Three ODIs will be played in Mackay, before a Test match and three T20s on the Gold Coast
Cricket Australia (CA) on Monday announced the shift of all matches to the state, with Mackay to host the one-day internationals before the one-off Test match and concluding Twenty20 series on the Gold Coast.
Matches were originally scheduled for Sydney, Melbourne and Perth but state border restrictions and the pandemic forced CA to alter the venues.
The opening ODI match on September 21 will give Meg Lanning's home side the opportunity to extend their record-breaking 24-game winning streak, in their first showdown since Australia's emphatic T20 World Cup win in front of a record crowd at the MCG in March last year.
The remaining two 50-over matches will be played on September 24 and 26.
Carrara Stadium on the Gold Coast will host the Test match starting on September 30.
T20 matches at the same venue on October 7, 9 and 10 will round out play.
Australian players based in NSW and Victoria, as well as the Indian team, will commence a two-week quarantine period in Brisbane on Monday, according to CA, with the remainder of the Australian squad to assemble closer to the start of the series.
"We've been monitoring the situation across the country and it is clear that the current COVID challenges prevent the original schedule from proceeding as initially planned," CA chief executive Nick Hockley said.
"We are incredibly grateful to the Queensland government for agreeing to quarantine the Australian and Indian players and enabling this important series to be played in Queensland.
"We are also delighted to be bringing our world champion women's team to Mackay and regional Queensland."
AAP