Australia's tour of the West Indies has been extended to three Tests in 2025.
The most recent release of the International Cricket Councils' future tours program had an ever-increasing number of two-Test series, of which Australia were set to feature in plenty.
The FTP (from 2023 to 2027), featured Australia playing two Tests against the West Indies in January 2024, New Zealand in February 2024, Sri Lanka in February 2025, two against the West Indies again in June 2025, and against Bangladesh in March 2027.
While the 2024 series have already been completed, and the Sri Lankan series is set to remain at two Tests given time constraints ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy, to be held in Pakistan pending diplomatic sign-off, the series against the West Indies will be expanded to three Tests.
That follows Australia and the West Indies drawing 1-1 in the 2024 series following the tourists' famous Day-Night Test win at the Gabba.
Outgoing Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley confirmed the news on SEN Radio.
"I am really glad that is going to manifest," he told SEN radio on Saturday.
"We're still waiting for an official announcement from the West Indies Cricket Board around precise dates and precise locations, but it will be a three Test series, which is obviously big.
"It's another great opportunity. The World Test Championship prescribed that we needed to play two, at least two.
"But really, for the fans and for the players, you don't want to be stuck in the position when it's one-on-one and everyone is feeling unsatisfied."
The series will be the first time the Australians have played a Test in the Caribbean since 2015, with the home side looking to avoid slipping even further down the Test rankings and both sides out to kick off the new World Test Championship cycle in winning fashion.
The series comes directly after the 2025 World Test Championship final, to be held at Lord's. Australia are the defending champions, having beaten India during the 2023 final.
A future series against New Zealand in the 2026-2027 summer has also been expanded from three to four Tests, with Cricket Australia looking to add more red ball content to their senior men's team's program.
Australia's upcoming cricket calendar is jam-packed. Following the completion of the Border-Gavaskar series, they fly straight to Sri Lanka for Tests and an ODI, with the Champions Trophy to follow.
The IPL break follows, before Australia play consistent cricket from June 2025 to March 2026 by touring the West Indies, hosting South Africa, touring New Zealand, then hosting India for limited overs cricket and England for the Ashes next summer, with a T20 and ODI tour of Pakistan to follow on either side of the 2026 T20 World Cup, to be held in India and Sri Lanka.
Australia's current future tours program
December 2024 - January 2025: Australia host India (five Tests, Border-Gavaskar Trophy)
February 2025: Australia tour Sri Lanka (two Tests, one ODI)
February - March 2025: ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan
June 2025: ICC World Test Championship final at Lord's
June-July 2025: Australia tour West Indies (three Tests, three ODIs, three T20Is)*
August 2025: Australia host South Africa (three ODIs, three T20Is)
October 2025: Australia tour New Zealand (three T20Is)
Australia host India (three ODIs, five T20Is)
December 2025 - January 2026: Australia host England (five Tests, the Ashes)
February 2026: Australia tour Pakistan (three T20Is)
February - March 2026: T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka
March 2026: Australia tour Pakistan (three ODIs)
June 2026: Australia tour Bangladesh (three ODIs, three T20Is)
August 2026: Australia host Afghanistan (one Test, three T20Is)
September - October 2026: Australia tour South Africa (three Tests, three ODIs)
November - December 2026: Australia host England (three ODIs, five T20Is)
December 2026 - January 2027: Australia host New Zealand (four Tests)**
January 2027 - February 2027: Australia tour India (five Tests, Border-Gavaskar Trophy)
March 2027: Australia host England (one Test, 150th anniversary)
March 2027: Australia host Bangladesh (two Tests)
* - Originally two Tests
** - Originally three Tests
