The England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) have confirmed that they will play a triangular ODI series against fellow ‘Big Three’ nations Australia and India in January next year, as the sides prepare for the World Cup.
The matches will be played in Australia, where the tournament will take place in February (as well as in New Zealand) and each team will play each other twice, before a final in Perth on 1 February.
ECB chief executive David Collier said: “Following our seven-match ODI series in Sri Lanka before Christmas, this tour will provide further excellent preparation for the England team prior to the ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.
“We look forward to an exciting and competitive series against two of the world’s best teams in this format of the game and thank both Cricket Australia and BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) for their support in agreeing this schedule.”
Australia have won the World Cup four times, while India are the defending champions, having won it in 2011. England have never won this title, but have reached the final three times, the last in 1992. (Cricket365)
Fixtures:
Jan 16: Australia v India, MCG
Jan 18: Australia v England, SCG
Jan 20: England v India, Gabba
Jan 23: Australia v England, Bellerive
Oval
Jan 26: Australia v India, SCG
Jan 30: England v India, WACA
Feb 1: Final, WACA
