Three tours, six Tests in 2009/10 National Bank summer of cricket

Cricket fans will see more Test cricket this summer than in any previous season – with the BLACKCAPS set to face Australia, Pakistan and Bangladesh in the 2009/10 National Bank summer of cricket.

New Zealand Cricket today announced an international schedule for the coming summer which features six Tests, eight One Day Internationals and three Twenty20 Internationals across the three tours.

Pakistan arrive in New Zealand in mid-November to play three Tests as part of their “home” tour which was rescheduled and shifted from Pakistan for security reasons.

In February Bangladesh undertake a short tour that includes one T20 International, three ODIs and one Test.

The Bangladesh tour is followed immediately by the arrival of Australia in late February to play a series of two T20 Internationals, five ODIs and two Tests, finishing at the end of March.

“This is shaping up as a very exciting season for cricket fans – and a really busy one for the BLACKCAPS,” said NZC Chief Executive Justin Vaughan.

“New Zealand has never before hosted more than five Tests in a season, so the six Test matches being played this summer is a tremendous programme.

“Trans-Tasman rivals Australia have only just vacated their long-held number one spot in world Test rankings, Bangladesh will look to continue their improvement after a series win against the West Indies – and the BLACKCAPS will be very keen to outdo Pakistan who sit one above us on the test rankings ladder.”

“The BLACKCAPS will also have the opportunity to continue their good form in both 50-over and Twenty20 cricket – against some exciting sides – culminating in the chance to win back the Chappell-Hadlee series against the Australians.”

Vaughan said the decision to play two Tests against Australia, instead of the scheduled three, was due to congestion in the international calendar and the compressed nature of the tour.

”Playing Test cricket in New Zealand after the cessation of daylight saving and deep into the second week of April is not realistic. Therefore our only option has been to limit the series to two Tests.”

The busy summer is also expected to see high levels of demand for tickets. The Australia series includes two ODIs at Auckland’s Eden Park, which remains under redevelopment with reduced capacity.

NZC’s commercial manager Peter Dwan said only 8,000 seats were expected to be available for public sale at each of these matches. “In previous seasons we've had up to 25,000 seats for public sale per match,” he said.

“However we are committed to taking international cricket around the country, including to our largest city of Auckland.

“We anticipate ticket demand considerably outstripping supply for these matches. To accommodate our keen fans, New Zealand Cricket will run a preferential registration service on www.blackcaps.co.nz.

“People who register now will have exclusive rights to purchase tickets to all our international matches before public sales commence – plus preferential seating allocation and significant other benefits as part of a new NZC FanZone initiative.”

INTERNATIONAL SCHEDULES

Pakistan to New Zealand
November 2009
Wed 18 – Fri 20 Warm Up Match
Tues 24 – Sat 28 1st Test at University Oval, Dunedin
December
Thurs 03 – Mon 07 2nd Test at Allied Nationwide Finance Basin Reserve, Wellington
Fri 11 – Tues 15 3rd Test at McLean Park, Napier

Bangladesh to New Zealand
February 2010
Wed. 03 Twenty20 International at Seddon Park, Hamilton 7.00pm
Fri. 05 1st ODI at McLean Park, Napier 2.00pm
Mon. 08 2nd ODI at University Oval, Dunedin 12.00pm
Thur 11 3rd ODI at AMI Stadium, Christchurch 2.00pm
Mon. 15 – Fri. 19 Test Match at Seddon Park, Hamilton

Australia to New Zealand
February 2010
Fri 26 Twenty20 International at Westpac Stadium, Wellington 7.00 p.m.
Sun 28 Twenty20 International at AMI Stadium, Christchurch 6.00 p.m.
March
Wed 03 1st ODI at McLean Park, Napier 2.00 p.m.
Sat. 06 2nd ODI at Eden Park, Auckland 12.00 p.m.
Tues. 09 3rd ODI at Seddon Park, Hamilton 2.00 p.m.
Thu. 11 4th ODI at Eden Park, Auckland 2.00 p.m.
Sat. 13 5th ODI at Westpac Stadium, Wellington 2.00 p.m.
Fri.19 – Tues.23 1st Test at Allied Nationwide Finance Basin Reserve, Wellington
Sat. 27 – Wed. 31 2nd Test at Seddon Park, Hamilton