India's Tour of Australia: CA arranges D/N warm-up game ahead of 1st Test
Melbourne: The Indian cricket team will get an additional Day/Night warm-up game in Sydney as a tune-up to the series-opening Pink Ball Test against Australia in Adelaide from December 17, the host board announced on Wednesday unveiling the full schedule of the 69-day engagement.
The tour will include a 14-day quarantine-cum-training period in Sydney starting November 12 for the Indians who will fly in after the IPL final on November 10.
The Border-Gavaskar Trophy will begin with a day-night encounter at the Adelaide Oval on December 17, followed by Tests at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (December 26), the Sydney Cricket Ground (January 7), and the Gabba (January 15).
As per BCCI's demands, there is a week's gap between the Boxing Day Test at the MCG and the New Year's Test at the SCG.
"India's squad will arrive in Sydney on November 12 subject to Australian Border Force travel authorization and the appropriate departure-approvals. The team will quarantine in Sydney prior to the first match of the series on November 27," Cricket Australia stated in a media release.
"...CA can also confirm dates for tour matches ahead of the Test series. India A will take on Australia A at Drummoyne Oval (New South Wales) (December 6-8), and India will play Australia A in a day-night match at the Sydney Cricket Ground (December 11-13)," the release stated.
According to the release, the three-match ODI Series will have matches at the Sydney Cricket Ground (November 27, 29) and Manuka Oval, Canberra (December 2).
That will be followed by the three-match T20 International Series at Manuka Oval, Canberra (December 4), and the Sydney Cricket Ground (December 6, 8).
The white-ball matches will be held in two cities -- Sydney and Canberra.
The Adelaide fixture will be the first day-night Test played between the two teams.
Neither side has lost a day-night Test previously, with the Australians winning all four twilight Tests in Adelaide against New Zealand, South Africa, England, and Pakistan, and India winning its only encounter at Eden Gardens versus Bangladesh in 2019.
Nick Hockley, CA's Interim CEO, thanked the BCCI for playing a constructive role in scheduling the series amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We have worked closely with the BCCI for many months to bring this tour to life, and I cannot speak more highly of the professional, thorough and collaborative manner with which they have approached this tour in these extraordinary and complex times."
"I would like to express my gratitude to everyone at the BCCI for the faith and support they have shown in the plan we have developed, which we believe will result in a safe and successful summer for all involved," Hockley said.
Hockley also said that the Boxing Day Test might feature spectators at the MCG as the board is coordinating with the Victorian State government on the issue.
"...we are working with the Victorian Government and the Melbourne Cricket Club on plans to safely host spectators at the iconic event with details to be confirmed in due course," Hockley said.
NSW Minister for Jobs, Investment, Tourism, and Western Sydney, Stuart Ayres said: "The NSW Government is pleased to support Cricket Australia and ensure that Australians get to see a Summer of cricket."
NSW Acting Minister for Sport, Geoff Lee added: "We can't wait to host one of the world's best teams for a terrific summer of cricket with the SCG ready to host the third test in January.
"NSW loves its cricket and we are so pleased we could work hand in hand with Cricket Australia to make this series happen."
The Schedule:
ODI Series:
1st ODI: Friday, Nov 27: SCG (D/N)
2nd ODI: Sunday, Nov 29: SCG (D/N)
3rd ODI: Wednesday, Dec 2: Canberra (D/N)
T20I
1st T20: Friday, Dec 4: Canberra (Night)
2nd T20: Sunday, Dec 6 SCG (Night)
3rd T20: Tuesday, Dec 8 SCG (Night)
Test Series
1st Test: Dec 17-21 Adelaide (Day/Night)
2nd Test: Dec 26-30 Melbourne
3rd Test: Jan 7-11 Sydney
4th Test: Jan 15-19 Brisbane.
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Mamata asks TMC nominees not to leave counting centres as EC data shows BJP leading
Kolkata (PTI): West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday urged TMC candidates and agents to remain vigilant and not to leave counting centres, alleging that there was a "game plan" by the BJP and the Election Commission to show the saffron party taking a lead in the early trends of counting.
In a video message issued during the counting of votes, the TMC supremo appealed to party workers to stay put and not to lose morale.
"I appeal to everyone that neither TMC candidates nor counting agents should abandon counting centres," she said.
As trends on the Election Commission website indicated the BJP leading in 188 seats against the TMC's 94, Banerjee maintained that her party was still ahead in a significant number of constituencies.
"We are still ahead in 170 seats, but I request everyone not to lose hope," she said, adding that there were "around 70 to 100 seats where we are leading, but they are not sharing the data of those seats".
"A false narrative is being spread," she alleged.
The chief minister accused the Election Commission of "not declaring results or leads" in areas where the TMC was ahead.
"This is a game plan by the EC and the BJP as it (poll panel) is not declaring results or leads in areas where we are leading," she said.
Banerjee also alleged irregularities in the counting process at some locations.
"In several places, counting has been stopped after the first two to three rounds. In Kalyani, we have caught seven machines with severe anomalies," she claimed.
She further alleged that TMC workers were being "harassed with the help of central forces" and that party offices were being "vandalised and forcefully captured".
"With the help of central forces, they are harassing and torturing AITC workers. Our offices have been vandalised," she said, also alleging that voter list revision exercises were "purposefully done to target seats where we were strong".
Seeking to reassure party workers, Banerjee said more rounds of counting were yet to take place and urged them to stay firm.
"Fourteen to eighteen rounds of counting will happen. You will surely emerge victorious. Don't be afraid; fight like tigers," she said.
Her remarks came as counting trends suggested that the BJP was leading in 188 seats and had crossed the halfway mark of 148 in the 294-member assembly, pointing to a potential shift in the state's political landscape.
Counting for 293 constituencies was underway with postal ballots, followed by EVM votes.
Officials cautioned that trends could change as more rounds are counted, and final results would be known later in the day.
জরুরি বার্তা pic.twitter.com/Uc82oihwEL
— Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) May 4, 2026
