New Zealand will host Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Australia in an extended season of cricket at home beginning in December this year. Over the course of the home summer, the Black Caps are booked to play four Tests, nine One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and five Twenty 20 Internationals (T20Is) across nine different venues.
The highlight of the home season of cricket, beginning on December 10, is the return of the Chappell-Hadlee series, which will be contested by Trans-Tasman rivals Australia and New Zealand, for the first time since 2010, as a full series as opposed to the one-off matches. It will be the first of eight Chappell-Hadlee Series contested on either side of the Tasman over the next seven years.
Sri Lanka, who toured New Zealand for a Test and ODI series last season as preparation for the World Cup, return for another full series starting with two Tests at Dunedin and Hamilton. The Tests will be followed by five ODIs and two T20Is.
The Sri Lanka series will be followed by a quick limited overs assignment against Pakistan starting January 15 that features an ODI at the Basin Reserve in Wellington for the first time since 2005.The series against Pakistan will then be followed by the marquee three-match Chappell-Hadlee ODI series against Australia. The Black Caps will also play two Tests against their neighbours at the Basin Reserve and the Hagley Oval. Should skipper Brendon McCullum play all the preceding Tests, he stands a chance to become the first player to play 100 consecutive Tests since debut in Wellington.
Speaking at the announcement of the home calendar, New Zealand Cricket Chief David White said: “On the back of the Cricket World Cup we’ve taken a regional approach to the allocation of international venues, working closely with local and regional councils, as well as with our Major and District Associations and venue authorities. I’d like to congratulate Wellington authorities and, specifically, Westpac Stadium for supporting the return of ODI cricket to the Basin Reserve.”
Full Schedule:
New Zealand v Sri Lanka
Tests:
1st Test – December 10 – University Oval, Dunedin
2nd Test – December 18 – Seddon Park, Hamilton
ODIs:
1st ODI – December 26 – Hagley Oval, Christchurch
2nd ODI – December 28 – Hagley Oval, Christchurch
3rd ODI – December 31 – Saxton Oval, Nelson
4th ODI – January 2 – Saxton Oval, Nelson
5th ODI – January 5 – Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui
T20Is:
1st T20 – January 7 -Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui
2nd T20 – January10 -Eden Park, Auckland
New Zealand v Pakistan
T20Is;
1st T20 – January 15 -Eden Park, Auckland
2nd T20 – January 17 -Seddon Park, Hamilton
3rd T20 – January 22 -Westpac Stadium, Wellington
ODIs:
1st ODI – January 25 -Basin Reserve, Wellington
2nd ODI – January 28 -McLean Park, Napier
3rd ODI – January 31 -Eden Park, Auckland
New Zealand v Australia
ODIs:
1st ODI – February 3 -Eden Park, Auckland
2nd ODI – February 6 -Westpac Stadium, Wellington
3rd ODI -February 8 -Seddon Park, Hamilton
Tests:
1st Test – February 12 -Basin Reserve, Wellington
2nd Test – February 20 -Hagley Oval, Christchurch
