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BCCI ushers in big home season: 13 Tests, six new venues

The BCCI has announced that Rajkot, Visakhapatnam, Pune, Dharamsala, Ranchi and Indore will debut as Test venues in India's 2016-17 home season, which will include series against New Zealand, England, Australia and Bangladesh

The BCCI has announced that Rajkot, Visakhapatnam, Pune, Dharamsala, Ranchi and Indore will debut as Test venues in India's 2016-17 home season, which will include series against New Zealand, England, Australia and Bangladesh. The announcement was made after the BCCI's Tour Programme and Fixtures Committee met in Mumbai.
Bangladesh will visit for a one-off Test during the season, their first Test in India since they were given Full Member status in 2000. India are the last of the Full Members to host Bangladesh for Test cricket.
In all, India's home season will include 13 Tests, eight ODIs and three T20Is; 13 Tests equals the record for the highest number of home Tests in a season for India; the only other instance was in 1979-80. It is also a world record for the number of Tests in a home season.
New Zealand will visit first and play three Tests and five ODIs from September 23 to October 30, before England arrive towards the end of the year for five Tests, three ODIs and three T20Is between November and January. The Australia series is scheduled for February-March 2017; they will play four Tests. The BCCI said the Bangladesh Test will be held in Hyderabad, but did not mention a date for it.
Indore, Kanpur and Kolkata will host New Zealand for their three Tests, before they move to Dharamsala, Delhi, Mohali, Ranchi and Visakhapatnam for the ODIs.
England's Tests are scheduled for Mohali, Rajkot, Mumbai, Visakhapatnam and Chennai, while the ODIs are at Pune, Cuttack and Kolkata. The three T20Is will be played in Bangalore, Nagpur and Kanpur.
Australia's Tests will be in Bangalore, Dharamsala, Ranchi and Pune.