Black Caps’ MCG dream still alive
Cricket Australia (CA) has confirmed New Zealand is in the running to play the coveted Boxing Day test in Melbourne late next year, pending International Cricket Council approval.
In news to excite cricket fans around the country, the Black Caps are a step closer to finally costarring in the highlight of Australia’s home summer for the first time in 32 years.
Remarkably, not since 1987 has New Zealand been granted a Boxing Day test at the MCG when the great Sir Richard Hadlee was defied by Australia’s No 11 Mike Whitney with the visitors one wicket from victory.
CA didn’t confirm New Zealand’s participation, given the ICC is yet to finalise the schedule for the new test championship which is set to start next year. But it certainly left the door open enough to justify some growing excitement behind closed doors at NZC, which declined to comment.
A CA spokesperson, on behalf of chief executive James Sutherland, said: ‘‘Whilst the 2019-20 home summer schedule is yet to be finalised, it is possible that New Zealand could feature in a Boxing Day test.’’
The spokesperson confirmed preliminary discussions had taken place between CA and NZC, but there would be no confirmation before the ICC board approves the new test and ODI championship programme in coming months.
Once that is done, CA will formalise its schedule for 2019-20.
As it stands, Pakistan is the major touring side pencilled in for Australia that summer.
Given Pakistan’s recent struggles in New Zealand conditions, CA could well deem the Black Caps a stronger and more marketable option for the 2019 Boxing Day test. The strong relations between CA and NZC also help.
‘‘I think every New Zealand cricketer dreams of playing in the
Boxing Day test match,’’ NZC chief executive
David White said on the eve of the 2015 World Cup final where the Black Caps lost to Australia at the MCG.
He said at the time NZC would keep pushing, and it seems it has finally made progress.
Should CA grant the Black Caps their wish, which could even be a one-off test alongside some Chappell-Hadlee Trophy ODIs, there is a financial drawback for NZC.
Host nations reap all the financial rewards via gate takings from bilateral series and NZC would need to forgo several lucrative limited-overs internationals at home.
The now regular ChristmasNew Year swing of Christchurch, Nelson and Tauranga would need to be put on hold for a year, but it’s understood NZC would be willing to do so if it meant the coveted Melbourne trip.
The last time NZC didn’t play at home over the holiday period was in 2012-13 when the Black Caps toured South Africa.
Frequency of Black Caps tests continues to be a topical issue, with a three-month hiatus between the one-sided series against West Indies and the two home tests against England in late March.
The Black Caps have another winter break before three scheduled tests against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates in OctoberNovember. Under the existing Future Tours Programme, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh will likely play two tests apiece in New Zealand next summer.
White confirmed last year, in announcing a broadcast rights deal with Star Sports India, that India were locked in for back-toback tours of New Zealand. He said next summer India would play three T20s and five ODIs, then in 2019-20 two tests, three ODIs and five T20s.
That may now have to be rejigged as the prospect of the Black Caps’ MCG Boxing Day test moves closer to reality.