A sizzling summer of internationals will set the backdrop for the 36th season of top cricket coverage on Channel Nine.

The Test series opens the summer of cricket when Australia plays South Africa in a Test at the Gabba in Brisbane for the first time in 49 years. Nine's Wide World of Sports will broadcast the match live.

Australia will play six Tests this summer: three against South Africa, with both sides vying for the world number one title, and three against Sri Lanka, including the historic Boxing Day Test at the MCG.

There will be 10 One Day Internationals in a series between Australia, Sri Lanka and the West Indies, which starts on January 11 at the MCG and concludes there on February 10.

Excitement will kick up another notch when Australia play T20 Internationals against Sri Lanka (January 26 and 28) and the West Indies (February 13).

The top names in the game will present Nine’s summer of cricket, led by the legendary Richie Benaud. The expert team joining him in the commentary box comprises Bill Lawry, Ian Chappell, Mark Taylor, Ian Healy, Michael Slater, Mark Nicholas and James Brayshaw.

Tony Greig, who has been an integral part of Nine's cricket coverage since 1979, will be absent from the commentary box due to illness.

"Our thoughts remain with Tony and his health battle. The door to the Nine commentary box will always be open to him whenever he is ready to return," Nine Network Head of Sport, Steve Crawley, said.

Australia's great fast bowler, Glenn McGrath, will join the Wide World of Sports team for the first Test against South Africa at the Gabba, adding his expert opinion on the two pace attacks that could well determine the result. Former Australian representative player Tom Moody will return to join the live Wide World of Sports coverage of the One Day International series.

Star fast bowler Brett Lee will again team up with Michael Slater for The Cricket Show, which will be live during lunch breaks in the Test series. The Cricket Show includes first-session recaps, player profiles, Master Classes, international and domestic updates, viewer emails, questions and feedback.

The Nine Network not only has the best commentary team in the business, but will continue to push the envelope in sports broadcast technology for the 2012-13 Wide World of Sports summer of cricket presentation.

At the forefront of cutting-edge cricket coverage, Wide World of Sports will again deliver first-rate broadcast technology. The Nine Network will integrate dynamic, commentator hand-held tablet and touch screen technology into the cricket broadcast. The summer of cricket will also incorporate revolutionary 3D replays into the coverage.

Spidercam, Extreme Slo-Mo cameras, Hotspot, Snicko, Speed-gun, Eagle Eye and Heart Tracker will all return to give viewers the front-row experience that is synonymous with Wide World of Sports.

As part of Nine's multi-platform offering, the Wide World of Sports website is the ultimate online destination for cricket lovers throughout the summer. With breaking news, live scores, in-depth statistics and expert opinion from the commentary team, it is the perfect complement to Nine's live broadcast.

Some of the key elements of the website wideworldofsports.com.au include:

• Latest cricket news and features
• Live scores and comprehensive stats centre
• Exclusive column with Michael Slater – In Bat with Slats
• Video updates from all Nine News sport bulletins
• Special features from The Cricket Show
• Cricket Trivia – a new game for all levels of cricket knowledge, with fantastic prizes
• The launch of The Club Room – for cricket tragics who just can’t get enough

For all of these great features and much more, visit wideworldofsports.com.au throughout the summer.

NINE'S INTERNATIONAL SUMMER OF CRICKET 2012-2013 BROADCAST SCHEDULE

Test Series
Test 1: November 9-13, Australia v South Africa Gabba, Brisbane LIVE @ 10.30am AEDT
Test 2: November 22-26, Australia v South Africa Adelaide Oval, Adelaide LIVE @ 10.30am AEDT
Test 3: November 30-December 4, Australia v South Africa WACA, Perth LIVE @ 1.00pm AEDT
Test 1: December 14-18, Australia v Sri Lanka Bellerive Oval, Hobart LIVE @ 10.00am AEDT
Test 2: December 26-30, Australia v Sri Lanka MCG, Melbourne LIVE @ 10.00am AEDT
Test 3: January 3-7, Australia v Sri Lanka SCG, Sydney LIVE @ 10.00am AEDT

One-day Series
ODI 1: January 11, Australia v Sri Lanka MCG, Melbourne LIVE @ 2.00pm AEDT
ODI 2: January 13, Australia v Sri Lanka Adelaide Oval, Adelaide LIVE @ 2.00pm AEDT
ODI 3: January 18, Australia v Sri Lanka Gabba, Brisbane LIVE @ 2.00pm AEDT
ODI 4: January 20, Australia v Sri Lanka SCG, Sydney LIVE @ 2.00pm AEDT
ODI 5: January 23, Australia v Sri Lanka Bellerive Oval, Hobart LIVE @ 2.00pm AEDT
ODI 1: February 1, Australia v West Indies WACA, Perth LIVE @ 2.00pm AEDT
ODI 2: February 3, Australia v West Indies WACA, Perth LIVE @ 2.00pm AEDT
ODI 3: February 6, Australia v West Indies Manuka Oval, Canberra LIVE @ 9.30pm AEDT
ODI 4: February 8, Australia v West Indies SCG, Sydney LIVE @ 2.00pm AEDT
ODI 5: February 10, Australia v West Indies MCG, Melbourne LIVE @ 2.00pm AEDT

T20 Internationals
T20 1: January 26: Australia v Sri Lanka Sydney Olympic Park, Sydney LIVE @ 7.30pm AEDT
T20 2: January 28: Australia v Sri Lanka MCG, Melbourne LIVE @ 7.30pm AEDT
T20 3: February 13: Australia v West Indies Gabba, Brisbane LIVE @ 7.30pm AEDT

NB: Broadcast times are subject to change. Please check local TV guides.