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Sydney - Australia will host England at the Adelaide Oval in
the first day-night Ashes Test during the 2017-18 series, building on the
success of the concept, Cricket Australia announced on Tuesday.
The series between the arch-rivals opens at the Gabba in
Brisbane from November 23 before heading to Adelaide then Perth. Melbourne
hosts the traditional Boxing Day Test with Sydney rounding it off.
England will also play five one-day internationals between
January 14-28.
Adelaide hosted the first-ever Test under lights using a
pink ball last year and it was a roaring success, with record attendances for
the clash against New Zealand.
Buoyed by the public reaction, the same venue was used for a
day-night Test against South Africa last month, while Australia face Pakistan
under lights in the first Test at Brisbane this week.
"We're really excited to announce that Adelaide will
play host to the first ever day-night Ashes Test," said Cricket Australia
chief executive James Sutherland.
"We know how much Adelaide fans love this style of Test
cricket. We're expecting a full house next year in what is sure to be a great
contest."
While the Gabba has long been the first Test on the
Australian summer calendar, it lost that right to Perth this year.
Sutherland said Perth had been pushed back to mid-December
for the Ashes to give it more time to complete construction of the new 60
000-seat Perth Stadium.
He added that given the slightly later-than-usual start to
the series, the schedule allowed for at least three Sheffield Shield matches to
be played before the Brisbane opener as preparation.
A lack of Sheffield Shield cricket was one of the reasons blamed for Australia suffering a run of five heavy Test defeats this year, before a new-look side ended the slump by beating South Africa last month.
Schedule for the 2017-18 Ashes series:
First Test - November 23-27 at the Gabba in Brisbane
Second Test - December 2-6, Adelaide Oval (day-night)
Third Test - December 14-18, Perth (venue TBC)
Fourth Test - December 26-30, Melbourne Cricket Ground
Fifth Test - January 4-8, Sydney Cricket Ground
Australia v England one-day series (2018)
First ODI - January 14, Melbourne Cricket Ground
Second ODI - January 19, the Gabba in Brisbane
Third ODI - January 21, Sydney Cricket Ground
Fourth ODI - January 26, Adelaide Oval
Fifth ODI - January 28, Perth (venue TBC)
