T20 series between Australia and South AfricaImage Credit Source: Getty Images
With the India-England Test series and then the Zimbabwe-New Zealand Test series, the long format cricket season has been completed. Now once again the thrill of limited overs cricket has started. Along with the series of West Indies and Pakistan, the T20 series between Australia and South Africa is starting. After a gap of about 2 years, both teams are going to collide in this format. But this series is also special because with this a new ground is going to debut for international cricket. This ground is in the Australian city of Darwin, where 2 matches of this series will be played.
T20 series after 2 years
This T20 series is starting between hosts Australia and South Africa from Sunday 10 August. Earlier, the T20 series was played between the two teams in South Africa in September 2023, which Australia made a clean sweep 3–0. Now about 23 months later, both teams have again gathered for the 3 -match series. This time the grounds are from Australia. But despite this, this series is also like a puzzle and challenge for Australia because both the initial matches are being played on the ground where it has never played before.
International cricket for the first time in this stadium
In fact, 3-4 international matches were played about 21-22 years ago in Northern Australia city Darwin. But the ground on which these matches took place, it never returned to international cricket again. After this, a new stadium was built here, named Marra Oval. Only some matches have been played at the under-19 level on this ground. This city and venue are also special because this is going to be the only base of international cricket in northern Australia.
What will be the mood of the pitch on this ground, it will be as big puzzle for the host Australia as the guest is for South Africa. The special thing is that the drop-in pitch will also be used on this ground, which is common in the world famous plains of Australia from Adelaide to Melbourne. The second match of the series will also be played on this ground on August 12.
