Busy New Zealand 2018-19 summer includes series with India men and women

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced its 2018-19 home summer schedule, and it features double-headers against the Indian men s and women s cricket teams. Virat Kohli s Team India and the women s squad are slated to land in New Zealand in late January 2019, with the men facing the Blackcaps for five ODIs and three T20Is followed by three ODIs and three T20Is between the women s team and the White Ferns.

NZC has slotted the men s and women s ODI on successive days at Napier, Mt Maunganui and Hamilton, and similarly the T20Is will be held in Wellington, Auckland and Hamilton over consecutive days.

Additionally, India A will also tour New Zealand to play three four-day games against New Zealand A at Mt Maunganui, Seddon Park and Cobham Oval and three 50-over fixtures, all at Bay Oval.

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New Zealand s home summer will also feature visits from Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The men s team will first host Sri Lanka for two Test matches in December – including the Boxing Day Test in Christchurch – followed by three ODIs and a solitary T20I.

Bangladesh arrive in early February to player for three ODIs and Tests in Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch.

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We think it s another strong schedule in which we ve continued the philosophy of taking international cricket to some of our most popular boutique grounds over the school holiday period, said NZC chief operating officer Anthony Crummy in a press release.

It s exciting to have the India men s and women s team here. The men are currently ranked No.2 in ODIs and T20s and the women arrive as ICC Cricket World Cup finalists. It s also healthy to be driving greater exposure and appeal in the women s game. All six of the White Ferns fixtures will be televised live for the first time in New Zealand history.