AUCKLAND: New Zealand have announced their schedule for the 2018-19 international season that includes visits from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh bookending the tour by India, reported ICC.
The season will begin with Sri Lanka coming over for two Tests, three one-day internationals and one Twenty20 International to be played from 15 November 2018 to 11 January 2019. These fixtures include a Boxing Day Test match in Christchurch beginning 26 December, the second of the series, while the first will be played in Wellington from 15-19 November.
The ODIs follow the Tests and will be held in Mount Maunganui and Saxton on 3, 5 and 8 January, and the tour will conclude with a one-off T20I in Auckland on 11 January.
The tour by the Indian men and women begins 12 days after the final T20I against Sri Lanka wherein the men play five ODIs and three T20Is and the women play three ODIs and as many T20Is. While the T20Is will be double-headers, to be played on 6, 8 and 10 February in Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton, three of the men’s ODIs will precede the women’s 50-over games on the previous day.
The games against Indian women form the only home series for New Zealand Women this season. All six matches of the season will be televised, a first in New Zealand’s history.
Only three days after the final T20I against India, the New Zealand men clash with Bangladesh in the first ODI of a three-match series on 13 February. The ODIs will be followed by three Tests from February 28. The final Test match of the season will be played from 16 to 20 March 2019 in Christchurch.
“We think it’s another strong schedule in which we’ve continued the philosophy of taking international cricket to some of our most popular boutique grounds over the school holiday period,” said New Zealand Cricket Chief Operating Officer Anthony Crummy.
“It’s exciting to have the India men’s and women’s team here. The men are currently ranked No.2 in ODIs and T20s – and the women arrive as ICC Cricket World Cup finalists. t’s also healthy to be driving greater exposure and appeal in the women’s game. All six of the White Ferns’ (New Zealand Women) fixtures will be televised live for the first time in New Zealand history.”
