Black Caps binge for two summers
New Zealand fans can prepare for a bumper international season of cricket.
But they’d best be advised to enjoy it while it lasts.
Four teams are coming to New Zealand between this month and March to play all forms of the game.
World No 2 test side Pakistan kick things off next week but are only in New Zealand for two tests.
The emerging Bangladesh, fresh from a fine test win over England, are the Christmas- New Year fare, playing t wo tests and six limited- overs internationals.
New Zealand will be in Australia for three Chappell- Hadlee ODIs next month, and the Aussies return the favour at the end of January.
The big item on the schedule is the visit of South Africa for three tests and six limited- overs matches. They’re ranked fifth in the test game to New Zealand’s seventh, and second in ODI cricket, one spot higher than Kane Williamson’s men.
Although New Zealand were badly beaten in their test at Centurion in October, the series — South Africa’s first bilateral trip here since 2012 — should be a cracker.
New Zealand Cricket have also marked out their 2017- 18 home summer, which looks equally enticing, with incoming tours from the West Indies before Christmas next year for three tests and a clutch of limited- overs internationals; Pakistan for a bundle of ODI and T20 clashes; Australia for another bout of ChappellHadlee games; before England arrive for the main event of summer.
But don’t get too cosy that the volume of cricket each summer will stay that size. NZC chief executive David White doubts it.
“I think these t wo years are an anomaly,” White said. “It’s when we could reciprocate and accommodate tours.
“We’ve said these two years are very large but it’s probably going to revert in future to slightly less amounts.”
White said the Australian ODI series has been a bonus to the summer. He added New Zealand will be back in Australia again in a year as the Chappell- Hadlee format gets a push after some fallow years.
It i s likely the incoming programme will change to t wo significant visits incorporating around six tests and blend of ODI and T20 games. New Zealand will play seven tests between November 17 and March 29. ODIs between December 4 and March 4. T20s from January 4 to February 17.