Australian Tri-Series

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Australian Tri-Series refers to the international cricket tournament held since 1979 between the home side and two touring teams, in the height of the Australian cricket season, i.e. during the summer months of December, January and February. Between 1979-80 and 1995-96 it was known as the World Series Cup. From 1996-97 to 1999-2000 it was known as the Carlton and United Series. In 2000-01 it was known as the Carlton Series. It was renamed the VB Series between 2001-02 and 2005-06, and renamed to the Commonwealth Bank Series for the upcoming 2006-07 series. The name comes from the Australian bank Commonwealth Bank, who sponsors the competition.

For the past ten seasons, the tournament has been held as a series of one-day internationals between three teams, where the top two qualify for the finals, and so was the 2005–06 instalment. The concept of a three-team international series (known as a tri-series) in cricket originated with the World Series Cricket program sponsored by Kerry Packer, and the first two tri-series between Australia, West Indies and a World XI have never been awarded official one-day international status.

However, from 1979–80 onwards, the tournament has been official, and it has featured under various names and various formats during this time, such as the Benson and Hedges World Series Cup or Carlton and United Series. A rename to VB Series was agreed to in a five-year contract in 2001–02, though the company who sponsors the tournament, Carlton & United Beverages, remains the same.

Whilst Carlton and United Beverages/Foster's Group remains one of Cricket Australia's primary commercial partners, the company has decided to no longer be the naming rights sponsor of the One Day International Triangular Series, as of season 2006/2007. The series has been renamed the Commonwealth Bank Series as of season 2006/2007, as the Commonwealth Bank have signed a new three-year deal to sponsor the series, as well as the Australian one-day team in all matches within Australia.

[edit] Tournament results

This list of results runs from when the tournament was rebranded from the World Series Cup to the Carlton and United Series.

Season Winner Runner-up Third place
1996–97[1] Pakistan Pakistan West Indies West Indies Australia Australia
1997–98[2] Australia Australia South Africa South Africa New Zealand New Zealand
1998–99[3] Australia Australia England England Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
1999–2000 [4] Australia Australia Pakistan Pakistan India India
2000–01 [5] Australia Australia West Indies West Indies Zimbabwe Zimbabwe
2001–02 [6] South Africa South Africa New Zealand New Zealand Australia Australia
2002–03 [7] Australia Australia England England Sri Lanka Sri Lanka
2003–04 [8] Australia Australia India India Zimbabwe Zimbabwe
2004–05 [9] Australia Australia Pakistan Pakistan West Indies West Indies
2005–06 [10] Australia Australia Sri Lanka Sri Lanka South Africa South Africa

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ Carlton and United Series 1996/97 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
  2. ^ Carlton and United Series 1997/98 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
  3. ^ Carlton and United Series 1998/99 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
  4. ^ Carlton and United Series 1999/00 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
  5. ^ Carlton Series 2000/01 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
  6. ^ VB Series 2001/02 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
  7. ^ VB Series 2002/03 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
  8. ^ VB Series 2003/04 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
  9. ^ VB Series 2004/05 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 17 January 2006
  10. ^ VB Series 2005/06 from CricketArchive, URL accessed 2 November 2006

[edit] External links