Tasmania has secured its biggest haul of international cricket in years, winning hosting rights for Australia's first Test against Afghanistan and an ODI against New Zealand.
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Bellerive Oval will host the first international match of the summer - the Afghanistan Test starting November 27 - before welcoming the Kiwis, finalists in the past two ODI World Cups, on February 2.
The announcement comes after an international cricket drought for the Apple Isle, which has hosted just four international fixtures since the 2015 World Cup.
The Afghanistan Test, which will act as a pre-cursor to a home Ashes series beginning December 8 in Brisbane, will finally give Tim Paine the chance to captain the Australian side on a ground situated just 15 minutes from where he grew up.
The 36-year-old keeper said he had been "chipping away" at Cricket Australia chairman Earl Eddings for some time to play a Test in his home state.
"It's something the last two or three years I've wanted to do," Paine said.
"I didn't think I'd ever get the opportunity, but it'll be a very proud moment for me to lead the Australian Test side out here.
"I remember sitting on the hill when I was a kid and seeing Boony [David Boon] and Ricky Ponting and I think that's where you inspire young kids.
"I think for the Test team and some of the Afghanistan guys to be around for over a week ... for Tasmanian kids to be able to see that and touch them and be really close is really exciting."
Granted Test status in 2017, Afghanistan has since played six matches, registering wins against Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and Ireland.
Several Afghan cricketers have performed strongly in the BBL in recent years, including spin trio Rashid Khan, Qais Ahmad and Mujeeb Ur Rahman.
"They're exciting, they're talented and on their day they can beat anyone so we're going to have to be at our best," Paine said.
"I think Afghanistan will bring a lot of energy, they've got a lot of skill and a lot of passion so it's going to be an excellent Test match.
"It's a really important stage for Cricket Tasmania and for Tasmanian people to come out and support it."
The state has struggled to draw respectable crowds to cricket in recent years, but Cricket Tasmania chairman Andrew Gaggin said population sizes meant it was unfair to make comparisons with other states.
"This is not the last Test - we hope to have regular Tests here," Gaggin said,
"Over the last 30 years we've averaged about two Tests every five years - we'd like to make that three or four every five years, but it depends on the schedule.
"There's only four or five Tests played in Australia in a summer so it's very hard - we're competing against venues that hold in excess of 50,000 people, so the economics weigh up in many cases for those games to be played in bigger venues."
Tickets will be available midyear.
TASSIE FIXTURES
Bellerive Oval, Hobart
- Nov 27 - Dec 1: Australia v Afghanistan, Test match
- Feb 2: Australia v New Zealand, second ODI