Black Caps Gear Up for Blockbuster Home Summer Against Cricket Heavyweights

Wednesday - 25/06/2025 11:01

The South Africa leg will see double-headers involving both the men's and women's teams

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has unveiled an action-packed home schedule for the 2025-26 season, featuring both the men's and women's teams in a series of exciting contests. The Black Caps are set to host Australia, England, South Africa, and West Indies across various formats, while the White Ferns will engage in a twin white-ball series against South Africa and Zimbabwe.

New Zealand men's cricket team with a busy season ahead

The men's team have a packed schedule ahead of the T20 World Cup next year © Getty

The summer season will commence with a three-match T20I series against Australia, starting on October 1st. Following this, England will tour New Zealand for a series of three T20Is, beginning on October 18th, and three ODIs, starting on October 26th.

The West Indies will then arrive for an extensive tour, which includes a five-match T20I series starting November 5th, followed by three ODIs commencing November 16th, and three Test matches, with the first Test starting on December 6th.

The White Ferns, after participating in the ODI World Cup 2025 in India and Sri Lanka, will have a home season featuring 14 white-ball games, starting early next year.

Zimbabwe will tour New Zealand for the first time for a three-match T20I series, beginning on February 25th. This will be followed by a three-match ODI series, part of the next ICC Women's Championship 2025-29, starting March 5th.

A five-match T20I series against South Africa will be played as double-headers alongside the men's matches from March 15th to 25th. The White Ferns will also play three ODIs against South Africa between March 29th and April 4th.

"It's great to welcome such a diverse range of opponents for both the Blackcaps and White Ferns, and especially pleasing for NZC to host the first-ever series between Zimbabwe and New Zealand women," said NZC Chief Executive Scott Weenink. "Fans will see top-tier cricket across all our major centres, with the doubleheaders against South Africa offering a chance to watch the very best female and male cricketers in the world on display in a unique day-out experience."

Weenink added, "We're thrilled to build this exciting home summer around the ICC Men's T20 World Cup and on the back of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, giving our players a chance to shine on the global stage as well as at home in front of their own fans. We've seen fantastic crowds across the country over the past few seasons and are looking forward to that continuing this summer given the strength of the schedule."

"It feels like a marquee summer," said pace-bowler Kyle Jamieson. "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. It's great to have another three-Test series at home and I'm sure the fans will get in behind the Test team as they have in seasons gone by. 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."

New Zealand's Home Schedule 2025-26

Here's a breakdown of the scheduled matches:

vs Australia