Tri-series returns to cricket schedule

This season's summer of cricket will see the return of the one-day tri-series for the first time in four years, involving Australia, India and Sri Lanka.

Australia will feature in six Test matches, two against New Zealand and a four-match series against world number one India.

Sri Lanka will then arrive and take part in a 12-match triangular tournament with a further three-match finals series to be played between the two highest ranked sides.

In between the conclusion of the Test series and the start of the one-dayers, Australia will play two Twenty20 internationals against India in Sydney and Melbourne.

The Sydney clash will be played at the Olympic Stadium on February 1 2012, the first international to be played at the Homebush venue.

The summer begins with Australia taking on New Zealand in the first Test at the Gabba in Brisbane on December 1 2011 with the second Test at Bellerive Oval in Hobart starting on Demember 9.

Australia plays India in the Boxing Day Test match at the MCG, before moving to Sydney for January 3-7, Perth from January 13-17 and the Adelaide Oval from January 24-28.