Australia will complete a full tour of the British Isles and Ireland over the next two years - and their prospective hosts will be delighted to have them.

Scottish and Irish cricket bosses are busy preparing already to take on the world's best team.

Australia, set to begin next summer's Ashes with the first Test in Cardiff, will take on Scotland in Edinburgh on August 28 - and in June 2010 Ireland will be their hosts for a one-day international.

The fixtures are the result of a successful collaborative approach by Scotland and Ireland to the England and Wales Cricket Board and Cricket Australia.

The ODIs will be the first for Australia against International Cricket Council Associate countries - apart from during World Cup, Twenty20 or Champions Trophy tournaments.

Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom and his Cricket Scotland counterpart Roddy Smith believe this agreement with Australia is telling evidence of how the two associate countries can help each other to progress.

"Attracting full member countries to play in Scotland and Ireland is one of the key objectives of our respective cricketing and commercial strategies, and for both of us to secure such a high-profile team as Australia in consecutive years is a great coup," said Deutrom.

"It is only by testing ourselves against the very best that we will understand how far we need to progress.

"We are also indebted to ECB for their support to both Scotland and Ireland in helping to bring about this excellent agreement for Associate Cricket."

Smith said: "This is fantastic news for both Ireland and Scotland.

"To attract the Australians to our countries is a major achievement for us both, and we are very grateful to the ECB and CA for their support.

"Although Scotland and Ireland are fierce competitors on the field, this is a great example of the two countries working together off the field to both our benefit."

The ICC's high performance manager Richard Done sees such fixtures as a major stepping stone in the global spread and improvement of his sport.

"This is further good news for the development of cricket," he said.

"One of the ways for the best Associates to close the gap at the top is to play meaningful matches against the likes of Australia."

The world champions deserve credit, Done believes, for signing up for the fixtures.

"It's great that Australia is showing its support for the ICC's high-performance programme with the confirmation of these matches," Done added.

"Apart from giving the Scottish and Irish players the chance to perform against some of the best cricketers in the world, it will also help to raise the profile of cricket in those countries.

"Cricket fans in Scotland and Ireland will also get the opportunity to see the world champions in action and, it is hoped, that will ensure big crowds at the matches."

Before then, both Ireland and Scotland are set to play matches against New Zealand in Aberdeen this July, following the Kiwis' Test and ODI tour of England.

Scotland will also play Ireland at Clontarf in July and have an inaugural ODI against England in Edinburgh on August 18.

More news from SportingLife.com

Live scorecards from SportingLife.com