A bumper Ashes summer for Australia's men's and women's teams has been locked in, and includes an historic inaugural Test for the men.
For the first time since gaining Test status, Afghanistan will play a five-day match in Australia, with Hobart the venue for the inaugural red ball clash between the two nations.
"To have them come here for the first ever test is absolutely huge," Cricket Australia interim chief executive Nick Hockley said.
"They've only played six tests in their history and they've won three.
"They're one of the most uplifting stories in world sport and with some of the best players in the world."
That Test will also serve as crucial preparation for Australia's men's team ahead of the Ashes, which begin at the Gabba on December 8.
The order of venues has been shuffled for this summer too, with Melbourne's traditional Boxing Day Test now the third match of the series and the SCG Test the fourth. Perth Stadium will host the fifth Test on January 14.
The Women's Ashes will benefit from clear air on the schedule and will begin with a Test match at Canberra's Manuka Oval on January 27.
Three T20s and three ODIs complete the multi-format Women's Ashes series as Meg Lanning's team bids to retain the urn again.
The women will tune up for the Ashes against touring India, though details of that series have yet to be confirmed — though Hockley says it will involve a Test match.
"The series is absolutely going ahead, it's more a case of finalising the actual dates and venues and we're working through those finer details with the BCCI."
T20s and ODIs against New Zealand and Sri Lanka in February round out a busy international summer for the men.
Cricket Australia is hopeful crowds will be permitted at near-capacity by the time the summer arrives, and even holds out slim hope of welcoming a small contingent of English fans.
"We would absolutely love for the English fans to come," CA's interim chief executive Nick Hockley said.
"We speak to the Barmy Army a lot and they would absolutely love to be here to support, but I think everyone understands the current situation.
"It's pleasing to see the vaccine rollout in Australia, and it's also encouraging to see the UK opening up so we just have to watch and hope.
"But our current thinking is there are likely to be international travel restrictions in place up until the end of the year."
