Home Summer of international cricket to start with Eden Park showdown

A top-billing T20 between the BLACKCAPS and the West Indies at Eden Park on Friday, 27th November will launch a packed home international cricket schedule for the New Zealand 2020-21 summer.

After concerns over the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the summer schedule, sports fans can look forward to the arrival of the West Indies and Pakistan men’s sides in November, followed by the Australia men’s’ team in February, and the Bangladesh men’s side in March.

Included in the season of international cricket are four Tests, two against the West Indies and then two against Pakistan, the first of which will be a Boxing Day Test at Tauranga’s Bay Oval.

The BLACKCAPS are currently in fourth place on the inaugural Test Match Championship ladder and a strong performance in each series will greatly enhance their chances of qualifying for the final, scheduled for next June.

The first Test against Pakistan at Bay Oval will be the eighth Boxing Day Test in New Zealand and the first since the BLACKCAPS beat Sri Lanka at Hagley Oval in 2018. Wellington (five Tests) and Christchurch have hosted the others.

The WHITE FERNS can also look forward to an exciting summer of international cricket, with the England women’s side confirmed to visit in February and March, and discussions ongoing regarding a visit from the Australia women.

While the Government has so far granted approval for the first two incoming teams, New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White was confident the other inbound tours would receive the green light.

“I’m thrilled to be making this announcement today, given the uncertainty and difficulties over the past six or seven months,” he said.

“We owe a huge debt of gratitude to the New Zealand government for helping us navigate this complex process, as we do to our commercial partners and especially Spark Sport and TVNZ, for their patience and understanding.

“Hosting these tours is incredibly important to us for two reasons: international cricket brings in revenue that funds the entire game of cricket in New Zealand and, also, it’s crucial that we look after the fans of the game and sport in general, especially during these difficult times.”

Mr White said NZC was aware of the challenging circumstances in which many New Zealanders had found themselves in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis and would be cutting the price of a GA adult ticket by almost half, to acknowledge this.

“It might sound counter-intuitive to be lowering ticket prices at a time of great additional cost and expense to the game, but we think it’s the right thing to do”.

Mr White said he was extremely grateful to Cricket Australia for seeing fit to send its men’s T20 side to New Zealand at a time when its international calendar was so congested.

“We’ve worked very closely with Cricket Australia in what is, really, a unique set of circumstances – and we can’t speak highly enough of their commitment to the global game.

“The same goes for the West Indies, Pakistan, Bangladesh and England - right across the board in cricket there’s been a real spirit of cooperation.”

While no international side would be in New Zealand through the bulk of January and early-February, Mr White said Kiwis could still look forward to top cricket.

“One of the silver linings is that our Super Smash competition, which will be played in that window, will now be boosted by the presence of BLACKCAPS and WHITE FERNS.

“It’s going to be the best Super Smash yet, I’m confident of that.”

BLACKCAPS v West Indies
Fri 27 Nov 20 1st T20 Eden Park, Auckland 19:00
Sun 29 Nov 20 2nd T20 Bay Oval, Tauranga 14:00
Mon 30 Nov 20 3rd T20 Bay Oval, Tauranga 19:00
Thu 3 Dec - Mon 07 Dec 20 1st Test Seddon Park, Hamilton 11:00
Fri 11 Dec - Tue 15 Dec 20 2nd Test Basin Reserve, Wellington 11:00

BLACKCAPS v Pakistan
Fri 18 Dec 20 1st T20 Eden Park, Auckland 19:00
Sun 20 Dec 20 2nd T20 Seddon Park, Hamilton 19:00
Tue 22 Dec 20 3rd T20 McLean Park, Napier 19:00
Sat 26 Dec - Wed 30 Dec 20 1st Test Bay Oval, Tauranga 11:00
Sun 3 Jan - Thu 07 Jan 21 2nd Test Hagley Oval, Christchurch 11:00

BLACKCAPS v Australia
Mon 22 Feb 21 1st T20 Hagley Oval, Christchurch 19:00
Thu 25 Feb 21 2nd T20 University of Otago Oval, Dunedin 14:00
Wed 3 Mar 21 3rd T20 Sky Stadium, Wellington 19:00
Fri 5 Mar 21 4th T20 Eden Park, Auckland 19:00
Sun 7 Mar 21 5th T20 Bay Oval, Tauranga 14:00

BLACKCAPS v Bangladesh
Sat 13 Mar 21 1st ODI University of Otago Oval, Dunedin 11:00
Wed 17 Mar 21 2nd ODI Hagley Oval, Christchurch 14:00
Sat 20 Mar 21 3rd ODI Basin Reserve, Wellington 11:00
Tue 23 Mar 21 1st T20 McLean Park, Napier 19:00
Fri 26 Mar 21 2nd T20 Eden Park, Auckland 19:00
Sun 28 Mar 21 3rd T20 Seddon Park, Hamilton 14:00

WHITE FERNS
Feb & Mar 21 International schedule to be announced