For the first time in New Zealand cricket history, the Black Caps and White Ferns will play double headers this summer.
Mithali Raj of India plays a shot off in front of Rachel Priest of New Zealand. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
The New Zealand sides will take on India in T20 internationals in Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton.
Both Indian sides will arrive in New Zealand in late January with the men playing a five-match ODI series and three T20s, and the women playing in three ODIs ahead of their three T20 fixtures.
The doubles headers are in Wellington on February 6th, Auckland on February 8th and Hamilton on February 10th.
Sri Lanka play two Tests, three ODI's and a T20 against the Black Caps in December and January.
The Indian men and women tour in late January and early February and Bangladesh play three Tests and three ODI's against the Black Caps in February and March.
Napier Mayor Bill Dalton turns the first sod in the long-awaited $4.9m redevelopment of the troubled McLean Park. Photo: RNZ
International cricket returns to McLean Park in Napier for the first time in almost two years, while Auckland gets just three international matches.
McLean Park will host a men's ODI against India on January 23rd, a women's ODI against India on January 24th and a men's ODI against Bangladesh on February 13th.
Five million dollars has been spent on drainage at McLean Park after a match was abandoned there in February 2017.
Eden Park will host a men's T20 against Sri Lanka and one of the T20 doubles headers with India.
Photo: Photosport
Sri Lanka, which recently trounced South Africa at home in Tests, is scheduled to arrive in New Zealand in early December and will play a warm-up match at Napier ahead of its Test series, a pre-christmas fixture at the Basin Reserve and a Boxing Day test at Hagley Oval.
NZC had hoped to schedule the opening Bangladesh Test at Seddon Park at the end of February as a Day-Night fixture but could not obtain agreement from the Bangladesh Cricket Board and was forced to revert to the traditional hours-of-play.
NZC chief operating officer Anthony Crummy said the schedule was rich in content; would bring some of the world's best players to New Zealand, and ensured a healthy geographical spread - with international fixtures to be played from Cobham Oval in the north, to the University of Otago Oval in the south.
"We think it's another strong schedule in which we've continued the philosophy of taking international cricket to some of our most popular boutique grounds over the school holiday period," said Mr Crummy.
"It's exciting to have the India men's and women's team here. The men are currently ranked No.2 in ODIs and T20s - and the women arrive as ICC Cricket World Cup finalists.
Basin Reserve Photo: Photosport
"It's also healthy to be driving greater exposure and appeal in the women's game.
All six of the White Ferns' fixtures will be televised live for the first time in New Zealand history."
Mr Crummy noted that, apart from the second T20 on February 8 at Eden Park, all the India men's games would start and finish an hour later than usual, as per NZC's agreement with Indian broadcaster, Star Sports.
"NZC would've liked to have scheduled more India matches at Eden Park in Auckland but was unable to do so because of restrictions at the venue."
