Day-night Test returns as New Zealand announce busy summer schedule
New Zealand Cricket announced a busy home schedule for the upcoming summer on Tuesday, with the Black Caps hosting a total of five different international teams between October and April.
The Kiwis will take on Pakistan and Bangladesh in a T20I tri series at the start of October, before travelling to Australia for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
At the completion of that tournament India will visit New Zealand for three T20I and three ODIs, before England arrive in the middle of February for two Test matches that won't form part of the current World Test Championship period.
The opening Test of that series will be under lights in Mount Maunganui and will be the first day-night Test match in New Zealand since Auckland hosted a clash against England in 2018.
England were rolled for just 58 on the opening day of that day-night Test at Eden Park, with current stars Joe Root, Ben Stokes and Jonny Bairstow all dismissed without scoring as Trent Boult and Tim Southee ripped through the visitors' batting line-up.
Two Tests against Sri Lanka in March will follow the England series, before a bumper few months of cricket will finish with white-ball series’ against the Island nation all the way through until April 8.
New Zealand's women's team will also host Bangladesh for three T20I and three ODIs in December, before they travel to South Africa for next year's ICC Women's T20 World Cup.
New Zealand Cricket CEO David White is hopeful of attracting big crowds to all series throughout the summer.
"Last summer's Women's World Cup did so much to promote the game, and it will be great to see the White Ferns in action right around the country," White said.
"And to have India, England and Sri Lanka touring here, on top of visits from Pakistan and Bangladesh, means cricket fans can look forward to a summer of top-quality cricket."
New Zealand Men's Schedule:
T20 tri-series v Bangladesh and Pakistan
October 8: T20 v Pakistan; Hagley Oval, Christchurch
October 9: T20 v Bangladesh; Hagley Oval, Christchurch
October 11: T20 v Pakistan; Hagley Oval, Christchurch
October 12: T20 v Bangladesh; Hagley Oval, Christchurch
October 14: T20 tri-series final (if qualified); Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Tour by India
November 18: 1st T20; Sky Stadium, Wellington
November 20: 2nd T20; Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
November 22: 3rd T20; McLean Park, Napier
November 25: 1st ODI; Eden Park, Auckland
November 27: 2nd ODI; Seddon Park, Hamilton
November 30: 3rd ODI; Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Tour by England
February 16 – February 20, 1st Test; Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
February 24 – February 28, 2nd Test; Basin Reserve, Wellington
Tour by Sri Lanka
March 9 – March 13, 1st Test; Hagley Oval, Christchurch
March 17 – March 21, 2nd Test; Basin Reserve, Wellington
March 25: 1st ODI; Eden Park, Auckland
March 28: 2nd ODI; Hagley Oval, Christchurch
March 31: 3rd ODI; Seddon Park, Hamilton
April 2: 1st T20; Eden Park, Auckland
April 5: 2nd T20; University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
April 8: 3rd T20; John Davies Oval, Queenstown
New Zealand Women's Schedule
Tour by Bangladesh
December 2: 1st T20; Hagley Oval, Christchurch
December 4: 2nd T20; University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
December 7: 3rd T20; John Davies Oval, Queenstown
December 11: 1st ODI; Basin Reserve, Wellington
December 14: 2nd ODI; McLean Park, Napier
December 18: 3rd ODI; Seddon Park, Hamilton