Australia's road to the 2019 World Cup

With the World Cup less than six months away, here are all the key dates for Australia's one-day side as they aim to defend their title.

January 12-18: Gillette ODI Series v India

Sitting between the Domain Test series against India and Sri Lanka, Australia have three ODIs against Virat Kohli's charges. The series starts in Sydney on January 12 before moving to Adelaide (Jan 15) and Melbourne (Jan 18). The selectors have named a 14-man squad that features the returns of veterans Peter Siddle, Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon. Gone from the incumbent squad are the likes of Chris Lynn, D'Arcy Short, Travis Head and Nathan Coulter-Nile. This series features the first three of the 13 ODIs Australia will play before their first World Cup match.

February 24 – March 13: Limited-overs tour of India

Following the completion of the two-match Domain Test series against Sri Lanka, Australia will be white-ball focused until the end of the World Cup. Their tour of India starts with two T20 internationals before five ODIs scattered across the subcontinent nation. While the conditions will unlikely resemble those Australia are set to encounter in the World Cup, facing the No.2 ODI team in the world and Kohli in competitive cricket will be invaluable.

Mid-March – Early April: ODI series v Pakistan

While the dates and venues are yet to be locked in, the five-match ODI series against Pakistan in the UAE follows Australia's tour of India. Like the preceding series, the conditions will vastly differ from those in the UK, but the standard of competition will be just as strong. In playing India and Pakistan, Australia face the finalists of the 2017 Champions Trophy, which Pakistan won in England. In addition, with Australia's first six games against the Asian teams in the tournament, the preparation against two powerhouse Asian nations appears advantageous. With the series expected to end just weeks before Australia name the World Cup squad, this tour represents the final chance for the player to impress the selectors.

March 28: Smith, Warner bans lifted

From March 28, Steve Smith and David Warner will be eligible for national selection again. Their 12-month suspensions that stemmed from their involvement in the plot to artificially alter the condition of the ball with sandpaper in the Cape Town Test will cease and they could return to the international arena as soon as the Pakistan ODI tour if the schedules line up. The last couple of games in the UAE could be staged after the bans are lifted, allowing Smith and Warner a chance to don the ODI gold ahead of the World Cup.

April 23: World Cup squad deadline

Gone are the days of nominating a preliminary 30-man squad before halving it for the tournament proper. Now the final 15-man squad is all that must be submitted to the International Cricket Council and it's due by April 23 at the latest.

Early May: Training camp

The chosen squad is set to assemble in Brisbane for a training camp at Cricket Australia's Bupa National Cricket Centre. At the NCC the Australians will train at the state-of-the-art facilities and play practice matches on the adjacent Allan Border Field. This camp is set to be the last hit-out for the squad on home soil before heading to Europe, where those squad members involved in the Ashes campaign that follows the World Cup will remain for four months.

Mid-May: Travel to UK

The team departs for England, where they are expected to play at least two warm-up matches ahead of their first game in Bristol. The ICC is yet to announce the warm-up games for the tournament. In 2015, Australia had warm-up games against India and the UAE.

Australia's World Cup fixtures

June 1: Afghanistan v Australia, Bristol (D/N)

June 6: Australia v West Indies, Trent Bridge

June 9: India v Australia, The Oval

June 12: Australia v Pakistan, Taunton

June 15: Sri Lanka v Australia, The Oval

June 20: Australia v Bangladesh, Trent Bridge

June 25: England v Australia, Lord's

June 29: New Zealand v Australia, Lord's (D/N)

July 6: Australia v South Africa, Old Trafford (D/N)

July 9: Semi-Final 1, Old Trafford

July 11: Semi-Final 2, Edgbaston

July 14: Final, Lord's

For a full list of all World Cup fixtures, click HERE