Black Caps Prepare for Blockbuster Home Summer Against Cricket Heavyweights

Thursday - 10/07/2025 04:01

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

New Zealand is set to host a series of high-profile international cricket teams, including Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies, during the 2025-26 home summer. The New Zealand Cricket (NZC) board announced the schedule, which also includes a twin white-ball series for the women's team against South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Black Caps face tough competition leading up to the T20 World Cup © Getty

Series Details

The New Zealand men's team will begin their home summer with a three-match T20I series against Australia, starting on October 1st. Following this, they will face England in a white-ball series consisting of three T20Is (starting October 18th) and three ODIs (starting October 26th).

The West Indies will then tour New Zealand for a comprehensive series, commencing with five T20Is on November 5th. This will be followed by three ODIs, starting November 16th, and three Test matches, with the first Test beginning on December 6th.

Women's Team Fixtures

The New Zealand women's team, known as the White Ferns, will also have a busy home season, featuring 14 white-ball games starting early next year. This follows their participation in the ODI World Cup 2025, held in India and Sri Lanka until early November.

The White Ferns will host Zimbabwe for the first time ever in a three-match T20I series commencing on February 25th. A three-match ODI series, part of the next ICC Women's Championship 2025-29, will follow, beginning on March 5th.

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

NZC's Perspective

NZC Chief Executive Scott Weenink expressed his enthusiasm for the upcoming season. "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," he said. "Fans will see top-tier cricket across all our major centers, 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 further 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."

Player's Take

Pace-bowler Kyle Jamieson shared his excitement, stating, "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."