Busy weekend
Rarely has there been such a spread of international sport on these shores with the summer and winter codes scrapping for not only the entertainment dollar but the attention of fans across the board. The tours by the Indian men and women have set the cricket scene alight, with five ODIs this week alone. The return of the rugby sevens circuit to Hamilton hints Super Rugby is not far away. The innovative World Hockey League hits these shores from tomorrow, with the Black Sticks hosting men and women from the Netherlands and Belgium and with that the chance to welcome back former Black Sticks Shane McLeod who now has winning World Cup coach on his CV and will put his side out on Friday at his former home turf at North Harbour. And the list of international visitors does not end there, with drivers from Romania, South Africa, the Czech Republic, Australia, Russia, the US, Austria, Japan and Belgium joining local up-andcomers in the keenly-fought Toyota Racing Series this week at Hampton Downs and next weekend in Taupo. Perhaps not international in the true sense of the word, there are also two NZ Breakers home games in the ANBL and the Phoenix on their home patch to play Melbourne City tonight. No one would dare suggest there is not something to whet even the most fussy sporting appetite.
● Cricket, One Day Internationals, today
2.30pm, Monday 2.30pm, Tuesday 1.30pm, Thursday 2.30pm, Friday 1.30pm. Football, see above. Hockey, tomorrow from 2.40pm, Friday from 5.10pm. Motorsport, today/ tomorrow from 8am. Basketball, tomorrow
2pm; Friday 7pm.