In the next cycle of the Future Tours Programme, India and Australia will play five Tests on a reciprocal basis (FTP). The expanded bilateral engagement, which is played for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, will begin in 2024 when India is scheduled to visit Australia. The 2023 home series in India, which will take place in February and March, will remain a four-Test affair.
Australia and England compete for the Ashes trophy in five Tests each year. In recent years, India has also played England in five Tests, both at home and away, and the same will be true for the series between India and Australia.
Various boards are putting the finishing touches on the next cycle of the FTP, which will take effect after the World Test Championship (WTC) final in June 2023. It is expected to be approved at the International Cricket Council (ICC) annual conference in Birmingham later this month. India’s bilateral matches will be known only after the FTP is made public, but the revamped series is expected to begin in late 2024 when India will visit Australia for a bilateral series.
This is not the first time the two countries will compete in five Tests. India has played three five-Test series in Australia, the most recent in 1991-92, which Australia won 4-0. India hosted Australia for five games in 1959 and 1969, respectively, and the 1979-80 series lasted six Tests. India currently holds the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which it famously won in 2020-21.
This is not the first time the two countries will compete in five Tests. India has played three five-Test series in Australia, the most recent in 1991-92, which Australia won 4-0. India hosted Australia for five games in 1959 and 1969, respectively, and the 1979-80 series lasted six Tests. India currently holds the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, which it famously won in 2020-21.
