New Zealand home summer to start with blockbuster all-format India tour

New Zealand Home Summer to Start with Blockbuster All-Format India Tour

The New Zealand men’s team will kick off their international home summer later this year by hosting India for an all-format tour from October 22 to December 1. The tour of 12 matches will feature five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests to be played across five major venues, making it the most number of international matches scheduled for an in-bound tour in NZC history.

India Tour Schedule

The India tour will begin in Christchurch’s Hagley Oval for the first two T20Is on October 22 and 24. Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton will then host the last three T20Is on October 27, 30 and November 1 respectively. After a two-day gap, the ODI series will begin on November 4 in Auckland, followed by the second ODI in Wellington (November 7), the third in Hamilton (November 10), and the last two in Mount Maunganui (November 13 and 15).

The Test series will start in Wellington on November 19, followed by the second game in Christchurch starting November 27.

Sri Lanka Tour

New Zealand will also host Sri Lanka for an all-format tour of three ODIs, three T20Is, and two Tests in late January and February to finish their home international summer that will see 42 days of international cricket across eight cities.

The Sri Lanka series will take place once New Zealand return from an away tour of four Tests in Australia scheduled for December-January.

New Zealand Women’s Team

The New Zealand women’s team, meanwhile, will host Bangladesh for three T20Is and as many ODIs from December 10 to 23, their only series in the home summer.

The Saxton Oval in Nelson will open the Bangladesh tour with two T20Is on December 10 and 12. The series will then move to Wellington for the third T20I (December 15) and the opening ODI on December 18. The final two ODIs will be played in Mount Maunganui on December 21 and 23.

Players’ Reaction

“It simply doesn’t get bigger than India and we’re determined to deliver New Zealanders a tour like no other,” NZC chief marketing and commercial officer Glenn Critchley said.

“It’s always a special occasion playing India,” Ish Sodhi said at the launch of the home schedule in Papatoetoe on Wednesday. “They’re an unbelievable cricket team, full of talent and star power – you know every time you face them it’s going to be seriously challenging.

Eden Carson, currently sidelined with an elbow injury, can’t wait for the summer after her recovery. “It’s been a challenging period and I’ve had to be patient with the injury,” she said. “After missing all of the recent summer and the current tour to England, I’m excited and motivated to get back out on the park.