WELLINGTON: One of New Zealand’s more picturesque summer hot spots will become the country’s latest Test venue in November when Bay Oval at Mount Maunganui hosts the first match against England, New Zealand Cricket said on Friday.

Joe Root’s side will play two Tests in New Zealand — the second is at Seddon Park in Hamilton — after England’s limited overs side take on the Black Caps in five Twenty20 Internationals.

Bay Oval will become New Zealand’s ninth Test cricket venue, NZC chief executive David White said while announcing the schedule, which also includes a full tour by powerhouse India early next year.

Bay Oval has hosted nine ODIs since 2014 and six T20 Internationals since 2016, typically over New Zealand’s summer holiday period when thousands flock to the area’s beaches.

India will play five Twenty20s and three ODIs as well as Tests in Wellington and Christchurch from late January to early March in 2020.

New Zealand will also play three Tests in Australia in December, including the Boxing Day Test in Melbourne and New Year Test in Sydney. The Black Caps have not played a Test in Sydney since 1985 and Melbourne since 1987. They return across the Tasman Sea for three ODIs in March, before the two sides travel back to New Zealand for three Twenty20 matches.

Schedule:

Nov 1: New Zealand vs England, 1st T20 (Christchurch).

Nov 3: New Zealand vs England, 2nd T20 (Westpac, Wellington).

Nov 5: New Zealand vs England, 3rd T20 (Nelson).

Nov 8: New Zealand vs England, 4th T20 (Napier).

Nov 10: New Zealand vs England, 5th T20 (Auckland).

Nov 21-25: New Zealand vs England, 1st Test (Mount Maunganui).

Nov 29-Dec 3: New Zealand vs England (2nd Test (Hamilton).

Jan 24: New Zealand vs India, 1st T20 (Auckland).

Jan 26: New Zealand vs India, 2nd T20 (Auckland).

Jan 29: New Zealand vs India, 3rd T20 (Hamilton).

Jan 31: New Zealand vs India, 4th T20 (Westpac, Wellington).

Feb 2: New Zealand vs India, 5th T20 (Mount Maunganui).

Feb 5: New Zealand vs India, 1st ODI (Hamilton).

Feb 8: New Zealand vs India, 2nd ODI (Auckland).

Feb 11: New Zealand vs India, 3rd ODI (Mount Maunganui).

Feb 21-25: New Zealand vs India, 1st Test (Basin Reserve, Wellington).

Feb 29-March 4: New Zealand vs India, 2nd Test (Christchurch).

March 24: New Zealand vs Australia, 1st T20 (Dunedin).

March 27: New Zealand vs Australia, 2nd T20 (Auckland).

March 29: New Zealand vs Australia, 3rd T20 (Christchurch).

Published in Dawn, June 8th, 2019