The Commonwealth Bank tri-series between India, Australia and Sri Lanka will be played from February 5 to March 8. It will be hosted at six different venues in Australia.
The tri-series will commence at the end of the four-match Test series between India and Australia. Each team will play the other four times before the top two sides at the end of the round-robin stage of the tournament will compete in the final of the tournament.
It will be a best-of-three final to be played on March 4, 6 and 8. The third final will be played only if necessary.
It was in 2007-2008 that the series was played last. India beat Australia in the best of three finals, winning it 2-0. Sri Lanka were the third team in that tournament as well.
This tri-series between Australia and two other teams were an annual occurrence in Australia till 2007-08 when they were finally discontinued because of falling viewer interest. The presence of India, a team which has a good following in Australia, seems to have tilted the scales in the favour of resuming the tri-series.
The Commonwealth Bank series 2011-12 schedule follows:
5 February 2012
India v Australia at Melbourne Cricket Ground
8 February 2012
India v Sri Lanka at WACA in Perth
10 February 2012
Australia v Sri Lanka at WACA in Perth
12 February 2012
India v Australia at Adelaide Oval
14 February 2012
India v Sri Lanka at Adelaide Oval
17 February 2012
Australia v Sri Lanka at Sydney Cricket Ground
19 February 2012
India v Australia at Gabba in Brisbane
21 February 2012
India v Sri Lanka at Gabba in Brisbane
24 February 2012
Australia v Sri Lanka at Bellerive Oval, Hobart
26 February 2012
India v Australia at Bellerive Oval, Hobart
28 February 2012
India v Sri Lanka at Sydney Cricket Ground
2 March 2012
Australia v Sri Lanka at Melbourne Cricket Ground
4 March 2012
1st Final at Gabba in Brisbane
6 March 2012
2nd Final at Adelaide Oval
8 March 2012
3rd Final (if required) at Adelaide Oval
