Australia will play a three-match Test series in the West Indies next year, says Nick Hockley

Adelaide, December 7 (IANS): Cricket Australia (CA) CEO Nick Hockley said the Test team will play three games in the West Indies in June and July next year, instead of two games. As per the new World Test Championship cycle, Australia is scheduled to play two Tests in the West Indies.

However, Hockley mentioned that CA and Cricket West Indies (CWI) have decided to host three matches instead. In January this year, Australia and the West Indies drew the two Test series. Australia will tour the West Indies for Tests for the first time since 2015, where they won both matches in Dominica and Jamaica.

“I’m really happy that this is going to manifest itself. We are still waiting for an official announcement from the West Indies Cricket Board with exact dates and exact locations, but it will be a three-Test series, which is obviously big and is as it should be.”

“It’s another great opportunity. The World Test Championship mandated that we have to play as two, at least as a pair. But for the fans and for the players, you really don’t want to be stuck in the position when it’s one-on-one and one-on-two.” “Everyone’s unhappy,” Hockley said on SEN radio on the second day of the Adelaide Test.

Asked about the likelihood of a Test match between Australia and the West Indies being a pink-ball Test match day and night, Hockley said: “I’m not sure about that. This will be confirmed in due course.”

Speaking about the lights going out twice in Friday’s final session game, Hockley said: “All we really know is that it was a switching issue. We have real confidence that something like this won’t happen again.”

“I was actually standing next to Charlie (Hodgson), he is the boss of SACA and this is their territory. In situations like this, you know that the venue managers and experts are looking into the matter, and I was pretty confident that they would come back pretty quickly.”

Asked about the future of the 2025 Men’s Champions Trophy, whose schedule and venues have been in limbo for quite some time due to India not traveling to Pakistan, Hockley revealed that there have been no formal discussions about a hybrid model However, hosting the tournament would make sense if the situation is dire.

“So we haven’t had anything formal about that yet, but I’ve obviously seen the media (reports) in the last 24 hours. Again, it’s above the pay grade of cricketers, but the most important thing for fans, broadcasters and everyone who loves the game is that we’re getting a truly fantastic event and a fantastic Champions Trophy. So if the hybrid model is the most pragmatic in this environment, then I think that makes a lot of sense.”