Four heavyweights taking on the BLACKCAPS; ICC T20 World Cup selections on the line, the WHITE FERNS squaring off against Zimbabwe and South Africa - these are some of the highlights of New Zealand Cricket's Home International Schedule for the 2025-26 season.
The BLACKCAPS will host Australia, England, the West Indies, and South Africa in a packed home season across multiple formats, the first three sides arriving before Christmas ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup campaign in India and Sri Lanka - which starts January and runs into March.
The WHITE FERNS, involved in their own ICC Cricket World Cup between late September and early November, are set for a bumper 14-game home summer, including a first-ever series against Zimbabwe, and a five-match T20I series against South Africa alongside the BLACKCAPS and South Africa men, in a continuation of the successful T20 International doubleheaders.
The home international summer will comprise 46 days of international cricket played at nine venues throughout the country: Seddon Park (Hamilton), Eden Park (Auckland), Bay Oval (Tauranga), McLean Park (Napier), Sky Stadium (Wellington), Cello Basin Reserve (Wellington), Saxton Oval (Nelson), Hagley Oval (Christchurch) and the University of Otago Oval (Dunedin).
TVNZ+, TVNZ 1, TVNZ DUKE and Sport Nation will once again be the free-to-air host broadcasters of the NZC international summer, with the Alternative
Commentary Collective covering BLACKCAPS matches via their digital channels.
NZC Chief Executive Scott Weenink said he was delighted NZC was able to wrap such an exciting home schedule around the two offshore global tournaments.
“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 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.
“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.”
The BLACKCAPS’ white-ball challenges comprise three T20Is against Australia in Mount Maunganui in early October, followed by three T20Is and three ODIs against England, and a five match T20I series and a three-game ODI series against the West Indies.
Christchurch’s Hagley Oval, Wellington’s Cello Basin Reserve, and Mount
Maunganui’s Bay Oval are the venues for the BLACKCAPS three-Test series against the West Indies in December, marking the start of the home side’s fourth ICC World Test Championship cycle.
BLACKCAPS pace-bowler Kyle Jamieson, who made a successful return from injury in the recent home summer, said it was exciting to have some of the best teams in the world coming to New Zealand.
“It feels like a marquee summer,” he said.
“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.”
WHITE FERNS rising star Georgia Plimmer said her side had plenty to look forward to.
“We can’t wait for the international season and the chance to play in another ICC Cricket World Cup,” she said. “We want to play as much cricket as we can, especially in front of our home fans and it’s exciting to have a 14-game home summer to prepare for."
“It’s great to see more T20I doubleheaders as they are such a great experience for teams and fans alike and it was awesome to see such strong crowds last season.”
Tickets for the NZC home international summer will go on sale in August and will be available at nzc.nz.
BLACKCAPS v ENGLAND ODI
Wednesday, 29 October 2025
BLACKCAPS v WEST INDIES ODI
Saturday, 22 November 2025
WHITE FERNS v ZIMBABWE T20i Series
Wednesday, 25 February, Friday, 27 February, Sun 1 March 2026
WHITE FERNS & BLACKCAPS v South Africa | T20i
Tuesday, 17 March 2026, Double-Header
