NZC announces the schedule of their home summer for 2018-19 season

New Zealand are set to face the Asian challenge of Sri Lanka, India and Bangladesh during their upcoming home summer for the 2108-19 season. While the Men in Blue will only be involved in the limited-overs fixtures this time around, the other two teams are scheduled to play a full series. From December to March, the Kiwis will host these sub-continental giants even as they will prepare for the World Cup in England.

India’s tour is sandwiched between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh’s as they will play 5 ODIs and 3 T20 Internationals starting from January 23. At the same time, India Women’s team will also be in the country and just like they did in South Africa, will play the 3 T20Is along with the Men’s team on February 6, 8 and 10.

Also, the start of all the matches is pushed back to align with the viewer-friendly timings in India. Only the second T20I in Auckland will start one hour earlier due to the restrictions on the number of events that can be held at the venue due to the proximity to the residential areas.

“NZC would’ve liked to have scheduled more India matches at Eden Park in Auckland but was unable to do so because of restrictions at the venue,” the board’s chief operating officer Anthony Crummy was quoted as saying by ESPN Cricinfo.

Sri Lanka will play Boxing Day Test

The home summer for New Zealand will commence with the two-match Test series against Sri Lanka, the second of which will be the traditional Boxing Day Test in Christchurch. The first Test will be played from December 15 in Wellington and then the ODIs will begin on January 3. The island nation will conclude their tour with the only T20 International in Nelson on January 8.

Bangladesh team will be in New Zealand by the time India series ends as they will be playing 3 ODIs and the same number of Tests against the home side starting from February 13. The tussle in the Tests will begin on February 28 in Hamilton and the home summer for the Blackcaps is scheduled to conclude on March 20 at the Hagley Oval.

NZC were hoping to play the first Test under the lights but they couldn’t come to an agreement with the Bangladesh Cricket Board over the same. “NZC had hoped to schedule the opening Bangladesh Test at Seddon Park as a Day-Night fixture but could not obtain agreement from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) and was forced to revert to the traditional hours-of-play,” their release statement read.

Here’s the schedule: