COVID-induced restrictions have reportedly forced the changes in schedule and venue.
The Indian women’s team is due to play three ODIs, one Test and three T20Is during the tour Down Under. The much-awaited series was scheduled to get underway on September 19 but it will now kick-start on September 21.
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As per a report in ESPNcricinfo, the opening ODI was originally slated for Sydney Oval but will now be played in Mackay due to the COVID-induced restrictions.
The report further says that the lockdowns around Australia have led to the change of schedules and everything is pending final approval from the Queensland state government.
Meanwhile, the Indian women's team will depart for Australia from Bengaluru on Sunday (August 29) and then the entire squad will undergo two weeks of quarantine.
On the eve of the departure, head coach Ramesh Powar addressed a press conference and talked about the team’s preparation.
"I think we need to understand we are going to play ODIs first. World Cup [in February-March next year] is a very important tournament for us and we're focusing on that. If you see only the one-off Test, we can't go in with a mindset of preparing for that," Powar said.
"I think it is about taking the one-day confidence into Test. In the last series, the way we came back, without our stars getting their rhythm, I'm confident that we don't have to prepare separately for the pink-ball Test. We back our players in the format, and they are good enough to react to the situation," he added.
Last week, BCCI announced India women’s squad for the Australia tour. Mithali Raj will lead the side in the solitary Test match and the 50-over series while Harmanpreet Kaur will play the role of captain in the shortest format.
(With ANI inputs)