New Zealand hosts Australia in Tests after eight years

New Zealand hosts Australia in Tests in a busy summer Schedule of 2023-24 as these rivals meet after eight long years.

New Zealand hosts Australia in Tests

The WTC champions Australia will play their first Test in New Zealand In eight years after a T20I series in February, which was confirmed by both countries’ cricket boards on Tuesday.

New Zealand will host the first Test in Wellington on Feb 29, with the second and final test in Christchurch on March 8. Australia defeated New Zealand 3-0 at home in their last meeting in the test series they played in 2019-20.

The Australians also had a victory against New Zealand 2-0 on their previous tour of New Zealand in 2016. New Zealand Cricket also confirmed the team’s home schedule against South Africa, with a two-test series starting in Tauranga on Feb.

New Zealand will be attempting to break their defeats against WTC champions whom they have never beaten in the format at home or away.

The men’s team will kick off on December 17 with the ODI and T20I series against Bangladesh, which is followed by five T20Is against Pakistan between January 12 and 21, with preparing for the T20 World Cup.

Bangladesh fixtures will be played across four venues Dunedin, Nelson, Napier, and Tauranga, while the Pakistan fixtures will be held in Auckland, Hamilton, Dunedin, and Christchurch.

New Zealand’s home schedule consists of 32 international fixtures, starting off with New Zealand’s meeting with Pakistan in the first of the three T20Is which is scheduled at Dunedin on Dec 3.

Many ODIs matches are scheduled until December 18, which will be part of the ICC Women’s Championship. They will however not play another home game until March 19, when they host England for five T20Is and three ODIs in Dunedin, Nelson, Wellington, and Hamilton.

“It’s a hugely exciting time for cricket in New Zealand, both in terms of the great series and teams on offer this summer, and the ability for fans to either attend the matches first-hand or watch live on TV at no charge,” NZC chief executive David White said.

“In terms of venues with lights, we’ve been able to schedule several back-to-back night matches and day matches to ensure good opportunities for both families and adult patrons, respectively, which we think is good for the game.

It’s a strategy that also complements our need to prioritize energy efficiency and to just do the right thing as a sports organization, given the challenges we’re facing from climate change these days,” White said.

The tour will also include three T20 internationals after the Tests, which will be a warmup match for Australia before the 2024 T20 World Cup, which is to be hosted by the West Indies and the United States in June 2024.

After claiming World Cup champions title in the T20I format for the first time in 2021, Australia failed on the Super 12 stage in 2022 on home soil.

In the opening game of the tournament, New Zealand stunned Australia with a huge victory that had an impact on Australia’s net run rate which ultimately pushed them to third position in Group 1.

Australia’s 2024 tour of New Zealand