Domestic Twenty20 series nears confirmation date

The 2005-06 fixture list, which will almost certainly include a Twenty20 domestic series in January, is close to being finalised, according to Cricket Australia. The Test summer will be extended by one match to six, but the event that will be most closely monitored by administrators is the inaugural interstate tournament of the abbreviated format.

A handful of experiments were wildly popular last year, including an Australia A fixture against Pakistan at Adelaide Oval, and Peter Young, Cricket Australia's general manager of public affairs, said a Twenty20 competition would be trialled. "We're still putting a toe in the water to test the public reaction," Young told ABC Online. "But our view is that the public owns the game of Australian cricket and it's our obligation to give them what they want." Young said long-term decisions would be based on the feedback.

West Indies, who played in the VB Series last season, and South Africa will face Australia in three Tests before Sri Lanka visit for a one-day series. The highlight of the summer will be the three World XI one-day matches and the Test against Australia in October's Super Series. Australia will also contest the three-match Chappell-Hadlee Series in New Zealand in December.