Australia to play three Tests in tour of West Indies to redeem Brisbane defeat

Australia’s first Test tour of the West Indies in a decade will be a three-match affair as authorities stamp out two-Test series.

The Australians will tour in June-July next year with at least two Tests mandated under the World Test Championship.

But Cricket Australia (CA) and the West Indies Cricket Board have agreed to stage three Test matches to avoid the stalemate of the last series between the teams.

In January this year, the Australians and West Indies drew the two-Test series one-all.

CA chief executive Nick Hockley, who will step down from the role at the end of his summer, says next year’s tour will definitely be over three Tests.

“I am really glad that is going to manifest,” he told SEN radio on Saturday.

“We’re still waiting for an official announcement from the West Indies Cricket Board around precise dates and precise locations but it will be a three Test series which is obviously big.

“It’s another great opportunity.

“The World Test Championship prescribed that we needed to play two, at least two.

“But really, for the fans and for the players, you don’t want to be stuck in the position when it’s one-one and everyone is feeling unsatisfied.”

Australia haven’t played a Test series in the West Indies since 2015.

That series was over two Tests and Australia recorded massive wins in each - by nine wickets in Roseau and by 277 runs in Kingston.

West Indies then toured Australia for the next three series - Australia won 2-0 in a three-match series in 2015/16 and also 2-0 in a two-match series in 2022/23.

Last January’s stalemate was highlighted by touring paceman Shamar Joseph bowling West Indies to an eight-run victory in Brisbane, ending a two-decade drought of Test wins over Australia.

West Indies great Sir Curtly Ambrose has been among those campaigning for a return to three-match series.

“Two-Test match series, to me, is a joke to be quite frank - minimum three,” Ambrose said in June this year.

“I don’t think two Tests is really appropriate for international cricket.

“Had we had a third Test in Australia (last January) that … would have been sold out.

“Everyone would have loved to see if West Indies could do that again and if Australia could bounce back.”