NEWS
OTHER SPORTS
DIARY
PEOPLE
MATCH REPORTS
SLIDE SHOW
ARCHIVES

Australia, SA to play indoors

Australia and South Africa will play each other in an historic indoor one-day cricket series in Melbourne next year.

Australian Cricket Board chief executive Malcolm Speed said three limited-overs matches would be held at the multi-purpose Docklands stadium on August 16, 18 and 20.

Although there have been a handful of exhibition matches played indoors in the past, next year's series will mark the first time a fully-fledged international has been played under a retractable roof.

Australian captain Steve Waugh said he welcomed the move but wanted the rules changed in case the ball hits the roof.

''It's probably similiar to Canterbury in England where they've got a tree on The Oval and if you hit the tree you get four runs,'' Waugh said.

''So I don't know what it would be like if you hit the roof; maybe it's 'six and out' or 'one hand one bounce' I don't know. Somebody is going to have to work out what goes on.''

The ACB also announced the two teams would play each other in a limited-overs series in South Africa on April 12, 14 and 16.

It will be the first meeting between the sides since their epic semi-final at this year's World Cup in England. That match finished in a tie with Australia going through to the final, which they won, because of a superior run-rate from their preliminary matches.

''Playing South Africa at any time is a great contest. The series on their home soil will be terrific but I can't wait to take them on at Docklands stadium,'' Waugh said.

''As World champions we are keen to protect our title and we will be out to win every game of every series we play in.''

The 52,000 seat Docklands stadium is a multi-purpose venue which will be used to host regular Australian rules, soccer, rugby union and rugby league matches.

The venue, which is due to open in February next year, will also be used for pop concerts and the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Speed said Melbourne Cricket Ground curator Peter Semosj would prepare a temporary pitch which would be installed in time for the three matches.

''This series against South Africa will allow us to test the stadium for cricket and it may be that we look to schedule this type of series as an annual event,'' Speed said.

UNI