Australia's cricket teams are gearing up for a busy schedule of tours, with the men's Australia A side set to face India A in September and October 2026. This tour will provide valuable experience for players ahead of the 2027 Test series in India. The men's Under-19 team will also tour India, facing the reigning Under-19 World Cup winners in three 50-over matches and two four-day games. Meanwhile, the women's Australia A side will tour India for the first time since 2018, playing a multi-format series that includes two T20s, three 50-over matches, and one four-day game.
The men's Australia A tour is particularly significant as it comes just a year before the 2027 Test series in India. This provides an opportunity for fringe Test players to gain valuable experience and test their skills against a strong Indian A side. The tour will feature two four-day games and three 50-over matches in Puducherry, with the four-day games taking place from September 22-25 and September 29-October 2. The 50-over matches will be played on October 6, 9, and 11.
The women's Australia A tour is a welcome return to India, offering a chance for players to push for a spot on the team for the 2027-28 multi-format tour. The tour will include two T20s, three 50-over matches, and one four-day game, with the T20s taking place in Mohali on September 12 and 15, the 50-over matches in Dharamsala on September 17, 20, and 23, and the four-day game in Dharamsala from September 29 to October 2.
The men's Under-19 tour will see the team face India's Under-19 side in three 50-over matches and two four-day games. The 50-over matches will be played in Rajkot on September 18, 21, and 23, while the four-day games will take place in Rajkot from September 27-30 and Ahmedabad from October 5-8. This tour will provide an opportunity for young Australian players to test themselves against a strong Indian Under-19 side and gain valuable experience.
The tours come at a busy time for Australia's cricket, with the men's ODI and Test teams touring Zimbabwe and South Africa from September 15 to 27, and the Test team playing three Tests in South Africa starting on October 9. This means that Test specialists may have the chance to play in the first Test before heading to South Africa, but the second Test seems less likely. However, Australia's selectors have shown a willingness to pick different XIs for subcontinent tours, so anything is possible.
The tours also provide an opportunity for players to push for a spot on the 2027 Test team. The men's Australia A tour, in particular, will offer valuable experience for players like Sam Konstas, Nathan McSweeney, Todd Murphy, and Cooper Connolly, who have previously played for Australia A in India. The women's Australia A tour will also provide an opportunity for players to gain experience and test themselves against a strong Indian side.
Overall, the tours offer a valuable opportunity for Australian cricket players to gain experience, test their skills, and push for a spot on the 2027 Test team. The tours will provide valuable experience for players of all ages and abilities, and will help to prepare Australia's cricket teams for the challenges of touring in India and other subcontinent countries.
