Auckland will miss out on hosting the Black Caps and White Ferns this summer, following New Zealand Cricket's release of the domestic international schedule for the two sides.
Auckland will get to see some international cricket during the women's World Cup with two games scheduled for Eden Park in March. Photo: Photosport
The Black Caps programme at home begins in the New Year with two tests against Bangladesh in Tauranga and Christchurch.
They then head to Australia to play three one dayers and a T20 match.
The three one dayers against Australia are in Perth, Hobart and Sydney with the T20 in Canberra.
The White Ferns will put the finishing touches on their preparations for the upcoming World Cup, to be held here for the first time in 22 years with a six-match series against India made up of a T20, and five ODIs.
Auckland will get to see some international cricket during that World Cup with two games scheduled for Eden Park in March.
After their tour to Australia, the Black Caps will return home for two tests against South Africa in Christchurch and Wellington and then come up against Australia again with three T20 matches in Wellington and Napier.
New Zealand has never beaten the Proteas in a test series either home or away and four tests over the summer will be part of the side's world test championship defence.
All one dayers also carry ranking points to decide automatic qualification for the 2023 World Cup.
The Black Caps wrap up their domestic programme with a T20 match and three one dayers against the Netherlands with those games in Tauranga, Dunedin and Hamilton.
NZC chief executive David White said the delay in announcing the summer schedule was due to Covid-19.
"It hasn't been a straight-forward process and we've needed to work through a number of unexpected changes before finalising the arrangements," he said.
"The India series is a crucial part of the White Ferns World Cup preparations...(and) the four Tests are very important for the Black Caps World Test Championship defence."
White said Auckland had a light schedule due to clashes between the Australia T20 matches and the games already locked-in for Eden Park in the women's world cup; a continued reluctance to host Test matches at the venue and a decision that games against Netherlands were not the right fit for the city.
"It's just the way it has worked out this year, but the following year I am sure that Eden Park will figure strongly in short form games against India," White said.
"It's been really challenging to get the schedule to work, South Africa were going to play three T20s as well but with the MIQ requirements in New Zealand and then in South Africa it just condenses the window so we've only been able to fit in those two Test matches.
"But Cricket Australia have been great and stepped in and agreed to come and play three T20s."
Black Caps and White Ferns summer schedule:
Black Caps v Bangladesh:
Jan 1-5: 1st test at Bay Oval, Tauranga.
Jan 9-13: 2nd test at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.
Black Caps v Australia:
Jan 30 to Feb 8: Black Caps tour Australia for three ODIs and one T20.
Black Caps v South Africa:
Feb 17-22: 1st test at Hagley Oval, Christchurch.
Feb 25-Mar 1: 2nd test at Basin Reserve, Wellington.
Black Caps v Australia:
Mar 17: 1st T20 at Sky Stadium, Wellington.
Mar 18: 2nd T20 at Sky Stadium, Wellington.
Mar 20: 3rd T20 at McLean Park, Napier.
Black Caps v Netherlands:
Mar 25: 1st T20 at Bay Oval, Tauranga.
Mar 29: 1st ODI at University of Otago Oval, Dunedin.
Apr 2: 2nd ODI at Seddon Park, Hamilton.
Apr 4: 3rd ODI at Seddon Park, Hamilton.
White Ferns v India:
Feb 9: 1st T20 at McLean Park, Napier.
Feb 11: 1st ODI at McLean Park, Napier.
Feb 14: 2nd ODI at Saxton Oval, Nelson.
Feb 16: 3rd ODI at Saxton Oval, Nelson.
Feb 22: 4th ODI at John Davies Oval, Queenstown.
Feb 24: 5th ODI at John Davies Oval, Queenstown.
March 4 to April 3: ICC Women's World Cup in NZ.
-RNZ
