Cricket Australia finalised its men's and women's domestic schedules today, with the Marsh Sheffield Shield returning to a full home-and-away season after it was shortened last summer due to the pandemic.
Each state will also play seven Marsh One-Day Cup games before the final on February 27.
The domestic season is scheduled to begin in less than eight weeks, with two full rounds of the Marsh Cup from September 11-16, which could allow Australia's white-ball stars to take part before they fly out for the T20 World Cup.
It remains to be seen how COVID-19 restrictions and border closures will impact the schedule.
The Sheffield Shield season will begin on September 28, its second earliest start in history, and feature five full rounds before Australia's Vodafone Men’s Test against Afghanistan in late November.
The sixth Shield round before the mid-season break will be played concurrently with that Test, while an Australia A match against the touring Englishmen will be played at the same time as the first Vodafone Ashes Test at the Gabba on December 8-12.
But for a fourth consecutive season, there are no day-night matches on the Shield schedule, even though the second Ashes Test in Adelaide will be played under lights.
There was at least one day-night Shield round for five seasons between 2013-14 and 2017-18, and in recent years, some of Australia's Test players have had pink-ball preparation via 'A' games.
Pending COVID restrictions, Shield cricket is scheduled to be played in all six states as well as one game at Manuka Oval in Canberra, with Queensland to take their home games to Townsville and the new Ian Healy Oval in Brisbane due to the redevelopment of Allan Border Field.
The Shield final will be played on March 26-30 and be broadcast on Fox Cricket and Kayo Sports. Foxtel will also broadcast 13 Marsh Cup games, including the final, while broadcast and live streaming details for the remaining domestic matches will be announced later in the year.
Peter Roach, CA's Head of Operations said he was comfortable with the 22-game Marsh Cup schedule, despite recent criticism from Australia's ODI captain, Aaron Finch, that the scarcity of 50-over domestic cricket means Australia is falling behind other nations.
The one-day cup hasn't been played as a full home-and-away season in a decade and Roach is confident the balance of the current schedule, with 31 Shield games and 22 one-dayers to go with a full home-and-away KFC BBL, is the right one, especially once easier international travel allows for the return of full 'A' series at home and abroad.
Redbacks Schedule-
Sheffield Shield-
Round 1
Sep 28 – Oct 1, v Western Australia, Karen Rolton Oval
Round 2
Oct 14 – 17, v New South Wales, Adelaide Oval
Round 3
Oct 25 – 28, v Queensland, Ian Healy Oval
Round 4
Nov 7 – 10, v Tasmania, Blundstone Arena
Round 5
Nov 17 – 20, v Queensland, Adelaide Oval
Round 6
Nov 28 – Dec 1, v Victoria, Adelaide Oval
Round 7
Feb 6 – 9, v Western Australia, WACA
Round 8
Feb 17 – 20, v New South Wales, Sydney Cricket Ground
Round 9
Mar 5 – 8, v Tasmania, Adelaide Oval
Round 10
Mar 16 – 19, v Victoria, Junction Oval
Marsh One Day Cup-
Round 1
Sep 11, v Victoria, Junction Oval
Round 2
Sep 13, v Tasmania, Junction Oval
Round 3
Oct 3, v Western Australia, Karen Rolton Oval
Round 4
Oct 6, v Tasmania, Karen Rolton Oval
Round 5
Oct 30, v Queensland, Ian Healy Oval
Round 6
Feb 11, v Western Australia, WACA Ground
Round 7
Feb 22, v New South Wales, North Sydney Oval
