NZ v Aussie to open up summer?

A shot at test cricket revenge against Australia on home soil in November is one mouth-watering prospect for the Black Caps as discussions continue around a fastchanging international schedule.

Two home tests against the side who demolished New Zealand 3-0 across the Tasman in Decemberjanuary are a distinct prospect for home fans to welcome in season 2020-21 which could also see England and potentially even India visit our shores.

Regular discussions continue between New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive David White and his Cricket Australia (CA) counterpart Kevin Roberts amid the Covid-19 sporting shutdown, with a trans-tasman bubble likely to hasten international sporting contact between the countries.

No dates or fixtures are locked in yet as the cricket world begins to reshuffle its major events.

The first order of business is October’s men’s Twenty20 World Cup in Australia which will almost certainly be postponed until either February or the following October.

In its place, the reports, is the delayed Indian Premier League which the powerful BCCI has pencilled in for September 25 until November 1, potentially in empty stadiums.

Then there’s India’s lucrative four-test tour of Australia starting in December, worth a reported A$300 million to CA’S coffers and almost certain to go ahead assuming Australia’s government plays ball.

Stuff understands CA is keen for its test side to have a warm-up series for their headline act of the summer and NZC is happy to oblige by staging two Transtasman