Reports: Australia tour of England to begin on September 4

Australia’s proposed bio-secure tour of England is likely commence on September 4. Both the teams are scheduled to play three T20Is and as many as One-Day Internationals. Australia has already named a 26-man preliminary squad keeping the tour in mind which is expected to be officially finalised soon. Also, the bio-secure venues, Southampton and Manchester are likely to play hosts to six limited-overs matches.

International cricket returned with the Test series between England and West Indies after a break of 117 days. The Brits are also set to host Pakistan in August for three Tests and T20Is each with the latter team already in the country and has served its mandatory quarantine period.

According to the reports in The Daily Telegraph, the Australian team, led by Aaron Finch, will fly to the UK in a private jet. However, there are no details as of yet about where they will be able to stay in quarantine and practice. Cricket Australia’s chief of national teams Ben Oliver had earlier stated the health and safety of the players are of the utmost importance and the tour will be decided based upon the restrictions they will face in England.

“Obviously the health and safety of players and staff and public health component is critical. The quarantine arrangements aren’t in place, they’re not confirmed. They obviously exist in terms of general international travel at the moment so that’s something we’re working through but it is a consideration,” he had said.

Tour to conclude on September 15

If the first of the three-match T20I series between Australia and England is set to begin on September 4, then the visitors will have to reach the UK around three weeks before the series opener. They will have to stay in isolation first and then also play an intra-squad warm-up match much like how West Indies and Pakistan did. However, it remains to be seen if the warm-up matches are needed before the limited-overs series.

The Daily Telegraph report further added that the remaining two T20Is will be played on September 6 and 8 while the ODI series will commence on September. The other two matches in the 50-over format are reportedly scheduled to take place on September 12 and 15.