Doubleheaders over three days to be

THE Otago Volts will host only two teams in this year’s oneday competition

It comes as a result of the most notable change to the New Zealand domestic cricket draws released yesterday.

Teams will still play each other twice in the men’s Ford Trophy oneday competition.

But, rather than the home and away format of previous years, the competition will utilise doubleheaders over three days.

Teams will host their opposition in two matches at the same location, with a day in between.

The Volts host Northern Districts in Dunedin on December 13 and December 15, as well as Canterbury in Queenstown on February 19 and February 21.

Their other six games will be played in away doubleheaders.

It is a similar format to what has been used for the women’s Hallyburton Johnstone Shield in which teams play two games in consecutive days.

That structure has been maintained for this year for that competition.

The Otago Sparks have spread their three home weekends around the region as well.

Oamaru hosts Canterbury on November 21 and November 22, Invercargill hosts Auckland on December 5 and December 6, while Dunedin hosts Central Districts on December 19 and December 20.

The fourday Plunket Shield retains the same format as in previous seasons — the opening four rounds being played early in the season and the final four later.

It begins on October 19, although Otago does not start until a day later in Auckland.

It plays its first three games away, before hosting Canterbury in Alexandra on November 1417.