New Zealand Cricket announces 2011-12 women's fixtures

New Zealand Cricket today announced the full itinerary for the 2011-12 women’s summer of cricket.

The season will start on Friday 2 December 2011 with a full round on Action Cricket Twenty20 followed closely by the first round of 50-over Action Cricket Cup on Saturday 3 December 2011.

Domestic cricket dominates the calendar until the New Year with 30 Twenty20 matches and 15 games of 50-over cricket deciding the finalists who will meet on 14 and 15 January 2012. The national competitions finish earlier than usual to accommodate the Rose Bowl series which is pencilled in for late January/early February - Cricket Australia are due to confirm the dates shortly.

The White Ferns then meet England in a series that will include a combination of Twenty20 and One Day Internationals with the teams last meeting on New Zealand soil in March 2008.

In advance of the international series, England will play three warm-up matches against an emerging players selection from 11 February 2012 with a number of the tourists also likely to take part in the Action Cricket Twenty20 and Action Cricket Cup ahead of the tour.

In a boost for women’s cricket SKY Sport will broadcast the first three Twenty20 Internationals which are played before the BLACKCAPS take on South Africa at Westpac Stadium, Seddon Park and Eden Park.

New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive Justin Vaughan said he is looking forward to a feast of women’s cricket in 2011-12, especially the international battles with Australia and England.

“It’s a busy period for women’s cricket this coming summer with an intense domestic season followed by the Rose Bowl in Australia and tour by England,” Vaughan said.

“The White Ferns are extremely disappointed with their performance at the recent Quadrangular Series in England and have a very strong focus on improving their position in the world rankings.

“The team relish playing Australia and certainly have a point to prove after again losing out to their old foe in another closely fought Rose Bowl last year.

“One of the highlights of the women’s calendar will be the tour by England. They have been the most consistent team in women’s cricket for several years now and will provide a real challenge for the White Ferns.

“It’s great that the schedule allows for the White Ferns to join the BLACKCAPS in three televised double headers. It’s a good opportunity to showcase women’s cricket to a wider audience and highlight that it is not only highly competitive but also entertaining.”

Live scoring for all matches is available from www.blackcaps.co.nz and MA websites.