Black Caps Set for Action-Packed Home Summer Against Cricket Heavyweights

Wednesday - 25/06/2025 10:12

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

New Zealand is set to become a battleground for international cricket supremacy as they prepare to host Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies in a thrilling home summer series spanning multiple formats. The New Zealand Cricket (NZC) recently unveiled the highly anticipated schedule, which also includes a series for the women's team against South Africa and Zimbabwe.

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

The action kicks off with a three-match T20I series against their Trans-Tasman rivals, Australia, starting on October 1st. Following this, England will arrive for a white-ball series, featuring three T20Is commencing on October 18th, and three ODIs starting on October 26th.

The West Indies will then embark on a comprehensive tour, beginning with a five-match T20I series on November 5th. This will be followed by three ODIs, starting November 16th, and three Test matches, with the first Test commencing on December 6th.

Meanwhile, the New Zealand women's team, known as the White Ferns, will also have a busy home season with 14 white-ball games scheduled after their participation in the ODI World Cup 2025 in India and Sri Lanka.

For the first time, the White Ferns will host Zimbabwe in a three-match T20I series starting February 25th. This will be followed by a three-match ODI series, which is part of the next ICC Women's Championship 2025-29, beginning March 5th.

Adding to the excitement, the White Ferns will also participate in a five-match T20I series against South Africa, with double-headers alongside the men's team from both countries, running concurrently from March 15th to 25th. The White Ferns will then play three additional T20Is against the Proteas Women 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.

He further added, "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 emphasized the importance of the home summer in building momentum towards major global events. "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," he said.

Expressing his enthusiasm for the upcoming season, pace bowler Kyle Jamieson said, "It feels like a marquee summer. 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:

vs Australia