New Zealand won by one run when the teams met in Wellington last year
New Zealand Cricket has announced that Christchurch, Wellington, and Hamilton will host a three-match Test series against England towards the end of 2024. The dates for these matches have been confirmed early due to the high interest from local fans and the expected influx of supporters from England.
The first Test will kick off at Hagley Oval on November 28, followed by the second at the Basin Reserve starting December 6, and the third at Seddon Park beginning December 14. These matches will be part of the World Test Championship.
England, led by former New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, previously visited New Zealand for two Tests in February 2023, which weren’t part of the WTC. New Zealand tied the series by winning the second Test with a lead of only one run.
According to NZC, there was tough competition to allocate venues for these Tests, especially considering the expected strong presence of England supporters. The recent New Zealand and Australia series saw sold-out crowds for seven out of eight days of play.
NZC’s CEO, Scott Weenink, highlighted a shift in interest in Test cricket, translating into actual ticket sales and viewership numbers. He expressed excitement about the upcoming Tests against England and welcomed England’s team, their fans, and local supporters.
These three matches against England will be the only home Tests for New Zealand next season. Before that, they had a busy schedule with a one-off game against Afghanistan, followed by matches in Sri Lanka and India.
Looking ahead, New Zealand is scheduled to host just two home Tests in the 2025-26 season, with the West Indies being the visiting team.
Details about the rest of New Zealand’s international home season in 2024-25, including visits from the Australia and Sri Lanka women’s teams and the Sri Lanka and Pakistan men’s sides, will be confirmed later in the year.
The Australia women’s team is expected to tour before Christmas for three ODIs. Per the men’s FTP, Sri Lanka is set to play three ODIs and three T20Is from late December 2024, followed by Pakistan visiting for another three ODIs and three T20Is in late January.
