Swap between first two games of Australia tri-series

The first two matches of the one-day tri-series in January will swap in order, as a result of the rescheduling of the Australia-India Test series that was announced late on Monday.

The series was to begin at the MCG on January 16 with a clash between Australia and India, before Australia played England at the SCG on January 18. However, those two matches have now traded places in the schedule, with Australia-England in Sydney to begin the series on January 16, followed by Australia-India in Melbourne on January 18.

Cricket Australia said in a press release that the change was required "to provide the Indian players appropriate recovery time after the tour match which follows the Sydney Test". India will play a one-day tour game with date and venue yet to be confirmed, instead of the warm-up game they were to play against England at Drummoyne Oval in Sydney on January 12.

England's lead-in to the one-day series will now involve a game against an ACT XI at Manuka Oval on January 12, followed by the Prime Minister's XI match, which remains unchanged on January 14. The changes were necessitated by the decision to push back the Sydney Test by three days to run from January 6 to 10, which was intended to give the Test players a reasonable rest in a four-Test series.

Consideration had been given to playing the Gabba Test in January, after the New Year's Test in Sydney, but England and India were keen to avoid too much disruption to the one-day series given that it begins less than a month before the World Cup. Instead, Cricket Australia confirmed the Brisbane Test would become the second Test of the Australia-India series.

"In light of recent scheduling changes, we have attempted to minimise the impact on the Carlton Mid ODI Tri Series," James Sutherland, the Cricket Australia CEO, said. "We appreciate the patience of our fans as we continue to work through the impacts of these changes.

"At the same time, we look forward to an exciting Carlton Mid ODI Tri Series with England and India, which will be a fitting lead-in to the ICC Cricket World Cup commencing in February. We thank the BCCI and ECB for their support and understanding throughout this difficult time."

Cricket Australia said that pre-purchased tickets for the first two ODIs would be honoured, and full refunds would also be available. There will also be some changes to the Big Bash League schedule as a flow-on effect from the revised international fixtures, with further details to be provided this week.