Black Caps Set for Blockbuster Home Summer Against Cricket Giants Australia, England, South Africa & West Indies

Wednesday - 25/06/2025 11:16

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

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has unveiled a packed schedule for the 2025-26 home summer, featuring a host of international powerhouses including Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies. The Black Caps are set to battle it out across multiple formats, while the White Ferns will engage in a series of white-ball matches against South Africa and Zimbabwe.

The Black Caps have a busy schedule before the T20 World Cup.

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

The action begins with a three-match T20I series against Australia, starting on October 1st. Following this, England will arrive for a white-ball tour, playing three T20Is (from October 18th) and three ODIs (from October 26th).

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

For the White Ferns, fresh from competing in the ODI World Cup 2025 in India and Sri Lanka, the home season will feature 14 white-ball games, starting in early 2026.

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

A highlight of the summer will be a five-match T20I series against South Africa, played as double-headers alongside the men's fixtures 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."

Pace-bowler Kyle Jamieson echoed the sentiment, 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."