AUSTRALIA’S domestic one-day tournament - the Matador Cup - will be played in three states this year, with Brisbane, Perth and Sydney to host games.

This year’s edition will run from October 1 to 23, with Brisbane’s Allan Border Field to host the season opener between Queensland and Cricket Australia XI, a team made up of the country’s best young talents that will feature in the tournament for the second year running.

That is one of three fixtures that will be played at AB Field, with five to be played at the WACA Ground in Perth, between October 2 and 9.

The remaining 15 games will be played in New South Wales, with Drummoyne Oval to host the qualifying final and North Sydney Oval to host the decider.

Ahead of the start of this summer’s domestic season, get everything you need to know about the Matador Cup in our Ultimate Guide.

THE FIXTURES

Scroll to the bottom of the page for the entire list of fixtures, or check out a complete list of upcoming cricket fixtures here.

THE FORMAT

The pool stage runs from October 1 to 19, before a preliminary final between the second and third-placed teams is played on October 21. The winner of that match takes on the team that finished first on the table for the right to be crowned Matador Cup champion for 2016.

TV COVERAGE

Thirteen matches will be broadcast on the Nine Network.

Last year’s victorious NSW side. Picture: Phil Hillyard. Source: News Corp Australia

THE SQUADS

New South Wales: Moises Henriques (c), Doug Bollinger, Ryan Carters, Harry Conway, Ed Cowan, Ben Dwarshuis, Chris Green, Daniel Hughes, Nathan Lyon, Nic Maddinson, Peter Nevill, Steve O’Keefe, Kurtis Patterson, Gurinder Sandhu

Queensland: Jason Floros (c), Joe Burns, Ben Cutting, Luke Feldman, Cameron Gannon, Peter George, Marnus Labuschagne, Chris Lynn, Michael Neser, Jimmy Peirson, Nathan Reardon, Matthew Renshaw, Mark Steketee, Mitch Swepson.

South Australia: Callum Ferguson (c), Wes Agar, Tom Andrews, Nicholas Benton, Alex Carey, Tom Cooper, Michael Cormack, Alex Gregory, Jake Lehmann, Tim Ludeman, Kane Richardson, Alex Ross, Cameron Valentine, Jake Weatherald.

Tasmania: Tim Paine (c), Xavier Doherty, Ben Dunk, Dominic Michael, Alex Doolan, Jake Doran, Ben McDermott, Beau Webster, Simon Milenko, Hamish Kingston, Cameron Stevenson, Jackson Bird, Andrew Fekete, Cameron Boyce.

Victoria: Peter Handscomb (c), Fawad Ahmed, Aaron Ayre, Michael Beer, Dan Christian, Jackson Coleman, Matt Doric, Marcus Harris, Ian Holland, Jon Holland, Glenn Maxwell, Rob Quiney, Marcus Stoinis, Cameron White

Western Australia: Adam Voges (c), Cameron Bancroft, Jason Behrendorff, Hilton Cartwright, Michael Klinger, Shaun Marsh, David Moody, Josh Nicholas, Joel Paris, Nathan Rimmington, D’Arcy Short, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Jonathan Wells, Sam Whiteman.

Cricket Australia XI: Will Bosisto (c) (WA), Matthew Short (VIC), James Bazley (QLD), Jake Carder (WA), Brendan Doggett (QLD), Ryan Gibson (NSW), David Grant (SA), Sam Grimwade (VIC), Sam Harper (VIC), Liam Hatcher (NSW), Josh Inglis (WA), Ryan Lees (TAS), Arjun Nair (NSW), Thomas O’Donnell (VIC).

Western Australia’s Jason Behrendorff (R) is returning from a long injury lay-off. Picture: Gregg Porteous. Source: News Corp Australia

ONES TO WATCH

Kurtis Patterson (NSW): Touted as a future star for several years, Patterson looks to be edging towards that potential at the age of 23. An elegant left-handed batsman, Patterson recently scored a century against India A.

Mitch Swepson (Queensland): A young leg-spinner who caught the attention of Shane Warne during last year’s Big Bash League, Swepson turned more heads with impressive displays for Australia A during the winter. He played for the CA XI in last year's Matador Cup.

Callum Ferguson (South Australia): After a torrid time with injuries it finally seems like the Ferguson who was once a regular in Australia’s one-day team is back. His experience in a relatively youthful Redbacks squad will be valuable.

Jake Lehmann (L) and Callum Ferguson (R) are ready to fire for the Redbacks. Picture: Sarah Reed. Source: News Corp Australia

Glenn Maxwell (Victoria): Who else? Not picked in Australia’s one-day squad despite an extraordinary showing in the recent Twenty20 series in Sri Lanka, Maxwell has a real point to prove. Will be interesting to see if he’s affected by a botched attempt to switch states to NSW.

David Moody (Western Australia): The son of former Warriors coach and Aussie all-rounder Tom, this young pace bowler has been earning a name for himself in his own right lately. Still just 21, Moody took six wickets in a first-class match against India A earlier this month. Made his Sheffield Shield debut last summer but this will be his first appearance in the Matador Cup.

Arjun Nair (Cricket Australia XI): It’s not often Australia produces a ‘mystery spinner’, so this one is worth keeping an eye on. The NSW off-spinner is just 18 years old.

Teenage spin prodigy Arjun Nair will play for the CA XI. Source: News Corp Australia

THE COACHES

Trent Johnston (NSW): Took over at the start of last season and immediately won silverware when the Blues took out the Matador Cup. Former Ireland captain who played one Sheffield Shield match for NSW in 1999.

Phil Jaques (Queensland): Former Test and NSW opening batsman who only retired from playing cricket in 2014. Last year was his first as a head coach.

Jamie Siddons (South Australia): A legend of South Australia cricket and often referred to as one of the best batsmen to never play Test cricket (he played one ODI for Australia). Coached Bangladesh’s national team and the Wellington Firebirds in New Zealand before taking charge of the Redbacks in 2015.

Dan Marsh (Tasmania): Another veteran of the domestic cricket scene who was a stalwart for Tasmania during the 1990s and 2000s. Has been in charge of the Tigers since 2013. He is the son of legendary wicketkeeper and current national selector Rod Marsh.

Andrew McDonald just finished up as Leicestershire coach. Source: Getty Images

Andrew McDonald (Victoria): Arrived in the country this week after finishing up his stint coaching Leicestershire in England. A pace-bowling all-rounder who played four Tests in 2009, McDonald was still playing as recently as last summer’s Big Bash League. He was named Bushrangers coach after David Saker left to be Australia’s assistant coach.

Justin Langer (Western Australia): Legendary opening batsman who was the heart and soul of one of the greatest Test teams of all time. Has been in charge of the Warriors since November 2012 and is seen as the natural successor to Australia coach Darren Lehmann.

Brad Hodge (Cricket Australia XI): Still plays Twenty20 cricket around the world but has already made a name for himself as a coach after guiding Gujarat Lions to the semi-finals in their first season of Indian Premier League. A right-handed batsman, Hodge was seen as unlucky to only play six Tests and 25 ODIs.

Brad Hodge played in the Masters Champions League earlier this year. Source: Getty Images

THE HISTORY

Australia’s one-day domestic tournament has gone through various incarnations since first being played in 1969-70. It has been known as the Matador BBQs One-Day Cup since 2014.

Last year’s winners: New South Wales

2014 winners: Western Australia

Most titles: Western Australia (12)

Least titles: South Australia (3), not including the Cricket Australia XI which was only introduced last year.

THE FULL FIXTURES

OCTOBER 1

Queensland v Cricket Australia XI at 09:30 local (09:30 AEST, 09:00 ACST, 07:30 AWST), Allan Border Field, Brisbane

OCTOBER 2

Western Australia v South Australia at 11:30 local (14:30 AEDT, 14:00 ACDT, 13:30 AEST), WACA, Perth

OCTOBER 3

Queensland v Tasmania at 09:30 local (10:30 AEDT, 10:00 ACDT, 07:30 AWST), Allan Border Field, Brisbane

Queensland veteran Chris Hartley was cut from the Bulls squad this year. Picture: Phil Hillyard. Source: News Corp Australia

OCTOBER 5

Tasmania v Cricket Australia XI at 09:30 local (10:30 AEDT, 10:00 ACDT, 07:30 AWST) Allan Border Field, Brisbane

South Australia v Victoria at 11:30 local (14:30 AEDT, 13:30 AEST, 14:00 ACDT), WACA, Perth

OCTOBER 6

Western Australia v Queensland at 11:30 local (14:30 AEDT, 13:30 AEST, 14:00 ACDT), WACA, Perth

OCTOBER 7

New South Wales v Cricket Australia XI at 10:30 local (10:30 AEDT, 09:30 AEST, 10:00 ACDT, 07:30 AWST), Hurstville Oval, Sydney

OCTOBER 8

Western Australia v Victoria at 11:30 local (14:30 AEDT, 13:30 AEST, 14:00 ACDT), WACA, Perth

OCTOBER 9

New South Wales v Tasmania at 10:30 local (10:30 AEDT, 09:30 AEST, 10:00 ACDT, 07:30 AWST), Hurstville Oval, Sydney

Queensland v South Australia at 11:30 local (14:30 AEDT, 13:30 AEST, 14:00 ACDT), WACA, Perth

Tim Paine will captain Tasmania this year. Source: News Corp Australia

OCTOBER 11

Victoria v Cricket Australia XI at 10:30 local (10:30 AEDT, 09:30 AEST, 10:00 ACDT, 07:30 AWST), Bankstown Oval, Sydney

OCTOBER 12

New South Wales v South Australia at 10:30 local (10:30 AEDT, 09:30 AEST, 10:00 ACDT, 07:30 AWST), Drummoyne Oval, Sydney

OCTOBER 13

Victoria v Tasmania at 10:30 local (10:30 AEDT, 09:30 AEST, 10:00 ACDT, 07:30 AWST), North Sydney Oval, Sydney

OCTOBER 14

New South Wales v Queensland at 14:30 local (14:30 AEDT, 13:30 AEST, 14:00 ACDT, 11:30 AWST), Drummoyne Oval, Sydney

OCTOBER 15

Cricket Australia XI v South Australia at 10:30 local (10:30 AEDT, 09:30 AEST, 10:00 ACDT, 07:30 AWST), Hurstville Oval, Sydney

Tasmania v Western Australia at 10:30 local (10:30 AEDT, 09:30 AEST, 10:00 ACDT, 07:30 AWST), North Sydney Oval, Sydney

OCTOBER 16

New South Wales v Victoria at 10:30 local (10:30 AEDT, 09:30 AEST, 10:00 ACDT, 07:30 AWST), North Sydney Oval, Sydney

OCTOBER 17

Cricket Australia XI v Western Australia at 10:30 local (10:30 AEDT, 09:30 AEST, 10:00 ACDT, 07:30 AWST), Hurstville Oval, Sydney

OCTOBER 18

Victoria v Queensland at 10:30 local (10:30 AEDT, 09:30 AEST, 10:00 ACDT, 07:30 AWST), Drummoyne Oval, Sydney

OCTOBER 19

South Australia v Tasmania at 10:30 local (10:30 AEDT, 09:30 AEST, 10:00 ACDT, 07:30 AWST), Bankstown Oval, Sydney

New South Wales v Western Australia at 10:30 local (10:30 AEDT, 09:30 AEST, 10:00 ACDT, 07:30 AWST), North Sydney Oval, Sydney

OCTOBER 21

Elimination final at 14:30 local (14:30 AEDT, 13:30 AEST, 14:00 ACDT, 11:30 AWST), Drummoyne Oval, Sydney

OCTOBER 23

Final at 9:30 local (9:30 AEDT, 08:30 AEST, 9:00 ACDT, 06:30 AWST), Hurstville Oval, Sydney