New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced a domestic schedule for the next two summers which includes 12 Test matches and a total of 98 days of international cricket.
The schedule for the 2016-2017 season includes seven Tests — two each against Pakistan and Bangladesh and three against South Africa — along with 11 one-day internationals and four Twenty20 internationals.
New Zealand will also play a three-match Chappell-Hadlee one-day series against Australia, with matches in Auckland, Napier and Hamilton. South Africa’s tour comprises three Tests, five one-day internationals and a Twenty20 match.
The 2017-2018 domestic season, which will contain five Tests, 17 one-day internationals and five T20s, will be one of New Zealand’s busiest on record.
The West Indies will arrive in November next year for a tour incorporating three Tests, five ODIs and one T20 internatonal.
Pakistan will play three Twenty20 and five one-day internationals, while Australia will play a Chappell-Hadlee series for the third straight year.
New Zealand will then meet England in two Tests and five one-day internationals.
“The last couple of years has seen a significant rise in interest in cricket and I think the schedule we’ve locked in will help that interest continue to grow,” NZC chief executive David White said. “There’s some obvious highlights with two more Chappell-Hadlee series at home, a three-match Test series against South Africa and the probability of a day-night Test against England at Eden Park.”
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