Australia are reportedly set to fire their "A" side back to life in a big way this summer to help prepare for the Ashes.
The side barely played during the height of the coronavirus pandemic, however, with international tours back on at full steam and the cricket world making up for lost time, Australia have two enormous away assignments after a hectic home summer.
While dates are yet to be confirmed, it's believed Australia - after playing a home T20 World Cup, Test series against the West Indies and South Africa, and a host of limited overs cricket on home soil - will take on India in an away four-Test series, before heading to England for the Ashes.
Australia are confident the lessons they learnt in a recently completed two-Test series of Sri Lanka, as well as an Australia A tour of the island nation at the same time, will leave them in good stead for the eventual tour of India, to be held in February and March according to the future tours program.
It's the Ashes which Australia will begin to turn their attention to in what will be an enormous 12 months of cricket, to be held in June and July of 2023.
It's understood, according to Cricket.com.au, Cricket Australia are looking to use the A Team in warm-up matches against South Africa and the West Indies, but then the team will also tour to play a New Zealand A side in two four-day matches at the back end of the summer.
Conditions in New Zealand could be described as more similar to England in anywhere in the world with often seaming pitches that will offer plenty of support for medium fast to fast medium bowlers with a tendency to rely on swing and seam.
The two matches would be played by a host of fringe Australian stars, while New Zealand's home side would also be made up of fringe Test players, with both games to be played with the Dukes ball that is used in England in another tip of the hat to the miles of preparation that will go into the men from down under attempting to retain the urn next year.
The fixtures are yet to be concerned, but it's expected they could be announced in the coming weeks.
