Christchurch, Wellington, and Hamilton will host New Zealand’s three-match Test series against England in late 2024, with the NZC confirming the dates ahead of the rest of the home calendar due to local interest and anticipated demand from visiting fans.
The first Test will take place at Hagley Oval on November 28, followed by the second at the Basin Reserve on December 6 and the third at Seddon Park on December 14. The matches will be part of the World Test Championship. England, led by former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, previously toured for two non-World Cup Tests in February 2023, with New Zealand winning the second by one run to draw the series.
The NZC stated that there was a “extremely competitive venue allocation process” for the Tests, which will most certainly witness a large inflow of English supporters. Last month, seven of the eight days of play between New Zealand and Australia were sold out.
“In the past, there’s often been a lot of talk in New Zealand about the popularity of Test cricket – without that translating into ticket sales or viewership numbers,” NZC chief executive Scott Weenink said. “The difference over the past summer, and in terms of the upcoming Tests against England, is that the interest is being converted to bums on seats and is driving record viewership numbers.
“We’re looking forward to that continuing over the upcoming summer, and to welcoming the England team and their fans to the Tests, and of course all the Kiwi-based supporters as well.”
The three Tests against England will be New Zealand’s sole home fixtures next season. They have a lengthy overseas tour planned, beginning with a one-off game against Afghanistan and continuing with two matches in Sri Lanka and three in India in September and October.
On the FTP, New Zealand will host only two home Tests in the 2025-26 season, with the West Indies as the only visiting team.
The remainder of New Zealand’s 2024-25 international home season will be announced later this year, with the women’s teams from Australia and Sri Lanka, as well as the men’s teams from Sri Lanka and Pakistan, visiting.
The Australian women’s cricket team is scheduled to trip for three One-Day Internationals before Christmas. According to the men’s FTP, Sri Lanka will play three ODIs and three T20Is beginning in late December 2024, followed by a three-ODI and three-T20I tour of Pakistan in late January.
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