South Africa lose Australian tour game

South Africa's tour match against Tasmania has been scrapped due to the switch in dates of the Champions League Twenty20 in India in December. The change was caused when the international tournament for domestic teams, which involves sides from Australia, South Africa, Pakistan, England and India, was rescheduled from its original spot after the now-postponed Champions Trophy.

The first Test between Australia and South Africa in Perth was moved last month to accommodate the change and South Africa will have a two-day game against Western Australia before the three-Test series starts on December 17. They were due to face Tasmania in the lead-up to the Boxing Day Test, but there is no longer enough space for the fixture.

Cricket Australia confirmed the alterations while unveiling their revamped domestic schedule for the summer. Western Australia and Victoria are Australia's representatives in the Champions League and their fixtures in early December had to be shifted to create the Twenty20 window.

The first round of Sheffield Shield matches will start on October 10 while the FR Cup now opens on October 8, with Western Australia playing New South Wales at the WACA. The reshuffle also means the Warriors will have four of their first five Sheffield Shield contests at home. "The WACA will be the centre of cricket in Australia throughout October and November," the chief executive Graeme Wood said, "and given the Warriors' outstanding record at home in recent seasons, it will be a great opportunity to burst out of the blocks and kick-start our season."