New Zealand Cricket has officially announced an action-packed home season schedule that will see five international teams visit the country over a span of 46 days, featuring high-stakes contests across formats for both the men’s and women’s sides. The comprehensive itinerary includes marquee clashes, historic encounters, and critical World Cup preparations, promising a blockbuster summer for fans.
The headline event of the summer will be the three-match ICC World Test Championship (WTC) series against the West Indies in December, marking the return of extended Test cricket on home soil. The Test series will follow two high-profile limited-overs series as New Zealand prepares to face traditional rivals Australia and England in white-ball formats earlier in the summer.
Adding to the international flavour, South Africa’s men’s team will tour New Zealand in March for a five-match T20I series. The timing of this series is significant as it will fall just beyond the expected window of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which is set to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.
New Zealand pacer Kyle Jamieson expressed enthusiasm over the calibre of opponents lined up this season. “It feels like a marquee summer. The calibre of opposition means we’ll be constantly tested for the duration of the season, and that’s what you want as a cricketer,” said Jamieson. He also highlighted the importance of home support: “It’s always special to play in front of a home crowd, and we’re hoping Kiwis will get out in force to support us once again this summer.”
Meanwhile, the White Ferns are set for an equally eventful schedule. Their preparations for the upcoming ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup will be complemented by a busy home calendar, starting with a historic bilateral series against Zimbabwe—who will tour New Zealand for the first time. The series comprises six white-ball games, followed by an eight-match series against South Africa, which includes several double headers alongside the men’s fixtures.
White Ferns batter Georgia Plimmer welcomed the expanded schedule and the opportunity to play more in front of home fans. “We want to play as much cricket as we can, especially in front of our home fans. It’s exciting to have a 14-game home summer to prepare for,” said Plimmer. “It’s great to see more T20I double headers as they are such a great experience for teams and fans alike.”
New Zealand men’s fixtures
Against Australia
- Oct 1 – 1st T20I, Mount Maunganui
- Oct 3 – 2nd T20I, Mount Maunganui
- Oct 4 – 3rd T20I, Mount Maunganui
Against England
- Oct 18 – 1st T20I, Christchurch
- Oct 20 – 2nd T20I, Christchurch
- Oct 23 – 3rd T20I, Auckland
- Oct 26 – 1st ODI, Mount Maunganui
- Oct 29 – 2nd ODI, Hamilton
- Nov 1 – 3rd ODI, Wellington
Against West Indies
- Nov 5 – 1st T20I, Auckland
- Nov 6 – 2nd T20I, Auckland
- Nov 9 – 3rd T20I, Nelson
- Nov 10 – 4th T20I, Nelson
- Nov 13 – 5th T20I, Dunedin
- Nov 16 – 1st ODI, Christchurch
- Nov 19 – 2nd ODI, Napier
- Nov 22 – 3rd ODI, Hamilton
- Dec 2-6 – 1st Test, Christchurch
- Dec 10-14 – 2nd Test, Wellington
- Dec 18-22 – 3rd Test, Mount Maunganui
Against South Africa
- Mar 15 – 1st T20I, Mount Maunganui
- Mar 17 – 2nd T20I, Hamilton
- Mar 20 – 3rd T20I, Auckland
- Mar 22 – 4th T20I, Wellington
- Mar 25 – 5th T20I, Christchurch
New Zealand women’s fixtures
Against Zimbabwe
- Feb 25 – 1st T20I, Hamilton
- Feb 27 – 2nd T20I, Hamilton
- Mar 1 – 3rd T20I, Hamilton
- Mar 5 – 1st ODI, Dunedin
- Mar 8 – 2nd ODI, Dunedin
- Mar 11 – 3rd ODI, Dunedin
Against South Africa
- Mar 15 – 1st T20I, Mount Maunganui
- Mar 17 – 2nd T20I, Hamilton
- Mar 20 – 3rd T20I, Auckland
- Mar 22 – 4th T20I, Wellington
- Mar 25 – 5th T20I, Christchurch
- Mar 29 – 1st ODI, Christchurch
- Apr 1 – 2nd ODI, Wellington
- Apr 4 – 3rd ODI, Wellington.