New Zealand announce 2015/16 summer schedule

New Zealand announce 2015/16 summer schedule: The Black Caps are set to host Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Australia this summer. The home season will commence from 10^th December with New Zealand taking on Sri Lanka in the 2-match Test series. This time around it will be an extended season of cricket in New Zealand. The Sri Lankan team will play a full-fledged series here which will include 2 Tests, 5 ODI matches and 2 T20Is. Prior to the World Cup 2015 as well, they had toured New Zealand to play Test and ODI series.

After the series against Sri Lanka, the Black Caps will lock horns with the Pakistani side in limited overs series which will begin from January 15. The Pakistan team will play 3 T20Is and similar number of ODI matches in the series. And then there would be a marquee clash between the world champions Australia and world cup 2015 finalists New Zealand. The Trans-Tasman rivals will play a 3-match ODI series which will be followed by a 2-match Test series. It would mark the return Chappell-Hadlee series after 5 years. The New Zealand home summer will end on 24^th February after the 2^nd Test match between New Zealand and Australia in Christchurch.

New Zealand Cricket Chief David White seemed very excited on the announcement of the home calendar and 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 ODI’s 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