On July 25 (Thursday), Cricket Australia (CA) provided the Australian players with the best red-ball schedule for preparation ahead of the much-awaited Border-Gavaskar series against India. 

It includes as many as four Sheffield Shield games for the Australian-bound players to have a crack at before the series. Given Australia’s last international fixture is on September 29, it gives them enough rest before the first round of Sheffield Shield that starts on October 8.

There will further be three more rounds before Australia’s first Test against India starting November 22. While Pat Cummins is completely rested from the England series, Mitchell Starc (ODIs) and Josh Hazlewood (ODIs and T20Is) will be part of the limited-overs series.

All of the India-bound Test stars are likely to use Sheffield Shield as preparation for the mega event. It may also mean that Australia could play with a weakened side against Pakistan in the limited-overs series that begins on November 4. 

The Shield games will yet again provide an opportunity for the likes of Matt Renshaw, Marcus Harris and Cameron Bancroft to feature in the setup. In David Warner’s retirement, Australia have opted to promote Steve Smith to the top of the order, a move that hasn’t really sparked off yet. 

Over the last five years, it has been the best preparation the Australian team has received ahead of a home series.

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