New Zealand Cricket has announced a busy and high-profile international home schedule for the upcoming summer, featuring 46 days of competitive cricket against five visiting teams. The extensive itinerary includes tours by Australia, England, West Indies, South Africa, and Zimbabwe, offering a comprehensive slate of Test matches, ODIs, and T20Is across both men’s and women’s formats.

A major highlight of the men’s schedule is the three-match ICC World Test Championship series against the West Indies in December. This series will be crucial in shaping the Black Caps’ position in the WTC standings. Before that, New Zealand will square off in white-ball series against familiar foes, Australia and England, adding more intensity to the trans-Tasman and Anglo-Kiwi rivalries.

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In March, New Zealand is set to host South Africa in a five-match T20I series. The timing of this series falls just outside the window of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, which will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, serving as a valuable preparatory opportunity for the Black Caps.

Fast bowler Kyle Jamieson welcomed the packed fixture list with enthusiasm, saying it was shaping up to be a “marquee summer” for the team. “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,” Jamieson told the ICC. “It’s great to have another three-Test series at home, and I’m sure the fans will get behind the Test team as they have in seasons gone by. It’s always special to play in front of a home crowd.”

The women’s schedule is equally significant, with the White Ferns gearing up for a key period ahead of the ICC Women’s Cricket World Cup later this year. As part of their preparations, the team will host Zimbabwe for the first time in six white-ball matches, followed by a more intensive eight-match series against South Africa. Several of these fixtures will be played as double headers alongside the men’s games.

White Ferns batter Georgia Plimmer expressed her excitement about the upcoming opportunities. “We can’t wait for the international season and the chance to play in another ICC Cricket World Cup,” she said. “We want to play as much cricket as we can, especially in front of our home fans, and it’s exciting to have a 14-game home summer to prepare for.”

Plimmer also applauded the inclusion of more double headers. “It’s great to see more T20I double headers as they are such a great experience for teams and fans alike, and it was awesome to see such strong crowds last season,” she added.