NZ announces series against Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia

Published August 27, 2015
In this photo, Pakistani wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed lauds a successful LBW appeal against New Zealand batsman Dean Brownlie during the fifth ODI in Abu Dhabi on December 19, 2014. — AFP/File
In this photo, Pakistani wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed lauds a successful LBW appeal against New Zealand batsman Dean Brownlie during the fifth ODI in Abu Dhabi on December 19, 2014. — AFP/File

WELLINGTON: New Zealand Cricket on Thursday announced details of upcoming tours involving Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Australia, as the Black Caps seek to capitalise on their stirring run to the World Cup final.

The international action over the New Zealand summer will feature four Tests, 11 one-dayers and five Twenty20 matches.

The Black Caps enjoyed a surge in popularity in rugby-mad New Zealand when they reached the World Cup final this year in a tournament they co-hosted with Australia.

While they fell flat against the Australians in the final, captain Brendon McCullum said the upcoming schedule offered home fans a chance to again see their team playing top-class opposition.

“Looking at this schedule, there's some really exciting opposition in front of us,” he told reporters.

“So hopefully we can build on what we did last year and also at the World Cup, drive this team forward and keep improving our performances.”

Sri Lanka arrive first, playing two Tests, five ODIs and two T20s between December 10 and January 10.

Pakistan then embark on a whistlestop tour involving three T20s and three ODI from January 15-31, with Australia wrapping up the schedule with three one-dayers and two Tests between February 3 and February 24.

The first Test against Australia in Wellington could potentially be McCullum's 100th and the 33-year-old, who suffers chronic back pain, was coy about whether he would consider retirement after reaching the milestone.

“I'm not sure, we'll see what unfolds,” he said. “It'd be great to achieve that, to play 100 Tests. It's something you could look back on and be very proud of, but it's not what motivates me.”


New Zealand home international schedule 2015/16


New Zealand v Sri Lanka

  • December 10-14: 1st Test, University Oval, Dunedin
  • December 18-22: 2nd Test, Seddon Park, Hamilton
  • December 26: 1st ODI, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
  • December 28: 2nd ODI, Hagley Oval, Christchurch
  • December 31: 3rd ODI, Saxton Oval, Nelson
  • January 2: 4th ODI, Saxton Oval, Nelson
  • January 5: 5th ODI, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
  • January 7: 1st T20, Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
  • January 10: 2nd T20, Eden Park, Auckland

New Zealand v Pakistan

  • January 15: 1st T20, Eden Park, Auckland
  • January 17: 2nd T20, Seddon Park, Hamilton
  • January 22: 3rd T20, Westpac Stadium, Wellington
  • January 25: 1st ODI, Basin Reserve, Wellington
  • January 28: 2nd ODI, McLean Park, Napier
  • January 31: 3rd ODI, Eden Park, Auckland

New Zealand v Australia

  • February 3: 1st ODI, Eden Park, Auckland
  • February 6: 2nd ODI, Westpac Stadium, Wellington
  • February 8: 3rd ODI, Seddon Park, Hamilton
  • February 12-16: 1st Test, Basin Reserve, Wellington
  • February 20-24: 2nd Test, Hagley Oval, Christchurch

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