New Zealand plans day-night Test against England in 2018

The New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced its annual schedule for the next two years home summers. The team is scheduled to host Pakistan, Bangladesh, Australia and South Africa in 2016-17 and is then expected to host West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and England in 2017-18 summer.

The board believes that a great interest has been generated among the audience in the country and hence has come up with a good schedule of international tours to keep the public entertained. “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.

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Citing the highlights of their next two summers, the NZC chief was delighted to inform that there have been two more home series against the trans-Tasman rivals Australia, which is expected to draw big crowds. He also said that the prospect of hosting a day-night Test during England’s tour of New Zealand in 2018 is also on the cards and the Eden Park is likely to be the venue for the match.

“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. While we can’t confirm it yet, it’s something we’re extremely interested in and working towards,” he added.

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The first of the two summers kick off this season in November when the team hosts Pakistan for a 2-Test match series beginning on 17 November.

The first Test match between New Zealand and Pakistan will take place from 17th November 2016 to 21st November 2016 at Christchurch. The second Test match will be played from 25th November at Hamilton.

Bangladesh will then follow with 3 ODIs, 3 T20Is and 2 Tests in New Zealand. They will host Australia for the Chappell Hadlee Trophy in January before hosting South Africa in February.

In all, the coming New Zealand summer will see the home side play 7 Tests, 11 ODIs and 4 T20Is.