India will meet Australia in the opening match of the tri-series, also involving Zimbabwe, on their tour Down Under.

The tournament commences on January 9, 2004 with a day-night match in Melbourne and ends with a third final, if necessary, on February 10 in Brisbane.

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The 16-member Indian team, which will also play four Tests during its 82-day tour of Australia, will leave from Chennai on the afternoon of November 21.

Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary S K Nair said Chennai was chosen as the departure point as it has better connecting flight facilities.

"The players too felt Chennai is the ideal point as all the players can assemble there easily before the team leaves for Down Under," he added.

"The team for the Aussie tour will be picked in Hyderabad on November 15 from the list of 20 probables announced today.

The selectors will also pick a 15-member India 'A' team to play Sri Lanka in three four-day matches at Ahmedabad, Pune and Mumbai later this month," Nair said.

"The selectors will then pick six to seven one-day specialists, who will join the team after the fourth Test in Sydney on January 6, 2004, for the tri-series involving India, Australia and Zimbabwe," he added.

The itinerary:

First Test: Brisbane (December 4-8)

Second Test: Adelaide (December 12-16)

Third Test: Melbourne (December 26-30)

Fourth Test: Sydney (January 2-6).

The fixtures for the tri-series:

Jan 9: India vs Australia (D/N) at Melbourne.

Jan 11: Australia vs Zimbabwe (D/N) at Sydney.

Jan 14: India vs Zimbabwe (Day) at Hobart.

Jan 16: Australia vs Zimbabwe (Day) at Hobart.

Jan 18: India vs Australia (D/N) at Brisbane.

Jan 20: India vs Zimbabwe (D/N) at Brisbane.

Jan 22: India vs Australia (D/N) at Sydney.

Jan 24: India vs Zimbabwe (D/N) at Adelaide.

Jan 26: Australia vs Zimbabwe (D/N) at Adelaide.

Jan 28: One-day tie vs Prime Minister's XI at Canberra.

Jan 29: Australia vs Zimbabwe (D/N) at Melbourne.

Feb 1: India vs Australia (Day) at Perth.

Feb 3: India vs Zimbabwe (D/N) at Perth.

Feb 6: First final (D/N) at Melbourne.

Feb 8: Second final (D/N) at Sydney.

Feb 10: Third final (D/N) at Brisbane (if required).