Cricket: Heavy schedule sees Aussie test dropped

A tight schedule means New Zealand will host Australia for two cricket tests instead of three, but the 2009/2010 domestic international season will still contain a total of six tests.

New Zealand's international season will begin with a three-test series against Pakistan in November and December followed by one against Bangladesh on their brief tour in February.

Australia arrive a week after Bangladesh leave to play two Twenty/20 matches, five one-day internationals for the Chappell-Hadlee trophy, and the two tests scheduled for March 19-23 at Wellington and March 27-31 at Hamilton.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said the decision to play two tests against Australia, instead of the scheduled three, was due to the compressed nature of the tour.

"Playing test cricket in New Zealand after the cessation of daylight saving and deep into the second week of April is not realistic.

"Therefore our only option has been to limit the series to two tests."

Pakistan arrive in New Zealand in mid-November to play the three tests as part of their "home" tour which was rescheduled and shifted from Pakistan for security reasons.

Dunedin will host the first test from November 24-28 followed by Wellington from December 3-7 and Hamilton from December 11-15.

The tour by Bangladesh includes one Twenty/20 international (February 3) three one-dayers (February 5 at Napier, Feb 8 at Dunedin and Feb 11 at Christchurch). Hamilton will host the sole test from Feb 15-19.

"This is shaping up as a very exciting season for cricket fans and a really busy one for the Black Caps," Vaughan said.

"New Zealand has never before hosted more than five tests in a season, so the six test matches being played this summer is a tremendous programme.

"Australia have only just vacated their long-held number one spot in world test rankings, Bangladesh will look to continue their improvement after a series win against the West Indies and the Black Caps will be very keen to outdo Pakistan who sit one above us on the test rankings ladder.

"They will also have the opportunity to continue their good form in both 50-over and Twenty20 cricket."

The busy summer is also expected to see high levels of demand for tickets.

The Australia series includes two one-dayers at Eden Park in Auckland, which remains under redevelopment with reduced capacity.

NZC commercial manager Peter Dwan said only 8000 seats were expected to be available for public sale at each of these matches.

"In previous seasons we've had up to 25,000 seats for public sale per match.

" However we are committed to taking international cricket around the country, including to our largest city of Auckland.

"We anticipate ticket demand considerably outstripping supply for these matches."

NZC will run a preferential registration service on www.blackcaps.co.nz and fans who register now will have exclusive rights to purchase tickets to all the international matches before public sales start.

Fixtures for New Zealand's 2009/2010 domestic international cricket season:

Pakistan
November 18-20 - Warm up match
November 24-28 - first test at University Oval, Dunedin
December 3-07 - second test at Basin Reserve, Wellington
December 11-15 - third test at McLean Park, Napier.

Bangladesh
February 3 - Twenty20 international at Seddon Park, Hamilton
February 5 - first ODI at McLean Park, Napier
February 8 - second ODI at University Oval, Dunedin
February 11 - third ODI at Christchurch
February 15-19 - test match at Seddon Park, Hamilton.

Australia
February 26 - Twenty20 international at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
February 28 - Twenty20 international at AMI Stadium, Christchurch
March 3 - first ODI at McLean Park, Napier
March 6 - second ODI at Eden Park, Auckland
March 9 - third ODI at Seddon Park, Hamilton
March 11 - fourth ODI at Eden Park, Auckland
March 13 - fifth ODI at Westpac Stadium, Wellington
March 19-23 - first test at Basin Reserve, Wellington
March 27-31 - second test at Seddon Park, Hamilton.

- NZPA