Canberra’s big summer of cricket is set for an even earlier start, with Ireland and Afghanistan to play the ACT Comets in September and October as a warm-up to their World Cup campaigns.
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Tickets for the Prime Minister's XI versus England went on sale on Monday, but the annual match is just one of a number of cricket attractions at Manuka Oval this summer.
Cricket ACT chief executive Mark Vergano said the capital had never seen cricket on this magnitude.
''Five top-level matches, three World Cup matches, PM's XI and the one-day international [between Australia and South Africa] in November, and then also these other international teams coming through,'' he said.
Comets coach Mark Higgs will get his squad together in early September to prepare for a unique warm-up to the Futures League.
''A couple of international teams coming to Canberra as a prelude to the World Cup is a fantastic opportunity for our boys to show their wares, but also get a glimpse of what World Cup cricket is like,'' he said.
Higgs is pushing for a flat wicket when the Comets take on Afghanistan in two 50-over matches on September 26 and 28, with the nation known to play a similar style as neighbouring Pakistan.
''They learn their cricket from Pakistan and those sort of areas ... and they play an exciting brand [of cricket],'' he said.
The Comets will then take on Ireland on October 7 and 9.
''Ireland have provided some of the great [World Cup cricket] moments, especially their upset against England a couple of years ago, and most of their players are now playing county cricket,'' Vergano said.
Playing the international World Cup sides will also provide an opportunity for Comets players to push for selection in the PM's XI and the chance to be play on the national stage.
"The Prime Minister's XI has always been the game that we showcase our best young talent,'' Higgs said.
''The big thing about the ACT program is if you are playing good cricket, you do get the opportunity to play against an international team in the Prime Minister's XI and you [can] take those opportunities in those matches, like Jono Dean did a few seasons ago.''
Tickets to the PM’s XI v England are on sale through Ticketek, with the match last year against the West Indies a sell-out.
