Australia Women to play seven one-dayers in India

Australia's women's cricket team, the Commonwealth Bank Southern Stars, will play seven one-dayers and a one-day practice game in a three-week long tour of India.

This will be Australia's first tour of India in over 20 years, notwithstanding the World Cup in 1997-98. Australia emerged victorious in the World Cup, beating New Zealand by five wickets in the finals at Eden Gardens.

Australia begin with a game against India A at Mysore on December 9, and will then play the first two games of the series at the same venue.

After the tour, Australia will take on New Zealand at Perth before embarking on a World Cup campaign to South Africa, which will be followed by the Ashes in August 2005.

Itinerary of India tour
December 9 Australians v India `A' Mysore
December 11 Australia v India Mysore
December 13 Australia v India Mysore
December 16 Australia v India Mumbai
December 19 Australia v India Vapi
December 22 Australia v India Surat
December 24 Australia v India Baroda
December 28 Australia v India Chennai

Australia squad 1 Belinda Clark (captain), 2 Karen Rolton, 3 Alex Blackwell, 4 Kate Blackwell, 5 Leonie Coleman, 6 Shelley Nitschke, 7 Cathryn Fitzpatrick, 8 Julie Hayes, 9 Melanie Jones, 10 Lisa Keightley, 11 Clea Smith, 12 Lisa Sthalekar, 13 Emma Twining