SCG to stage Twenty20 double-header

Australian will play New Zealand in a Twenty20 double-header on February 15 featuring men's and women's matches at Sydney Cricket Ground.

Cricket Australia's announcement follows a ground-breaking double-header on February 1 this year involving Australia and England in a women's match followed by an Australia-India men's clash, which drew a massive crowd of 84,041 at the MCG.

Australia's Southern Stars women's team will use the February 15 game as a warm-up for the ICC Women's World Cup in Sydney, Newcastle, Bowral and Canberra from March 7 to 22. Australia are defending world champions.

“The match will give the team a valuable opportunity to play on a big stage in a high-pressure environment ahead of the World Cup and World Twenty20 which will be played (in England) in June next year,” Southern Stars coach Richard McInnes said.

Australia's women's team will play a six-match series against world No.2 India in Sydney and Canberra from October 28 to November 9.

Australia will also tour New Zealand for the Rose Bowl Series shortly before the SCG Twenty20 International fixture.