Domestic season given night focus

Queensland have the chance to avenge their Pura Cup final loss when they host New South Wales in the opening ING Cup match of the season at the Gabba in October. Cricket Australia launched the domestic fixture list today with a move towards more night matches and the introduction of twilight games.

While capital city spectators will benefit from the more accessible times, regional supporters in New South Wales and Victoria have received a boost as matches will be staged away from the main grounds. The Blues will play an ING Cup fixture at Coffs Harbour and a Pura Cup game at Lismore while Drummoyne Oval, North Sydney Oval and the SCG will also be used.

Victoria return to Wangaratta for the first time since they played West Indies in 1996, and the Bushrangers will set up camp at St Kilda as the MCG prepares for the Commonwealth Games. The Wangaratta match against New South Wales will start at midday and four more twilight matches are scheduled for Tasmania's home one-day clashes.

South Australia will need to be owls as they are due to play six ING Cup games under lights while Western Australia and Queensland have four of their limited-overs home affairs as day-nighters. The Bulls, who suffered a one-wicket loss in last season's Pura Cup final, will open the first-class season against Tasmania at the Gabba on October 17.

James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia chief executive, said the domestic competition and its scheduling continued to provide value and interest for all cricket followers. However, details of the Twenty20 domestic tournament, which will be a much-hyped event and is set down for January, are still being finalised.

New South Wales
Country double-header against Victoria with an ING Cup match at Coffs Harbour on January 14 and a Pura Cup game starting at Lismore on January 16.
Drummoyne Oval to host Western Australia in the final ING Cup group match on February 19.

Queensland
Four day-night ING Cup fixtures at the Gabba.
Home games at the newly-completed Gabba, which holds 40,000.

South Australia
Four home ING Cup matches under lights at the Adelaide Oval.
Six of ten ING Cup matches are day-night fixtures.

Tasmania
Home Pura Cup matches at Bellerive Oval.
Four home ING Cup fixtures are twilight games starting at 11.30am.

Western Australia
Four home ING Cup matches under lights at the WACA.

Victoria
Home matches at the St Kilda Cricket Ground.
An ING Cup twilight fixture beginning at midday at Wangaratta.