Cricket: Ireland to host Black Caps for first time

The Black Caps will play in Ireland next year ahead of the Champions Trophy in England. Photo / AP

The Black Caps will face Ireland and Bangladesh in a ODI tri-series next year in preparation for the ICC Champions Trophy in England.

The Black Caps have played Ireland just twice before, the last match being in 2008.

Former Black Caps coach John Bracewell is now the coach of Ireland.

"It should be a fantastic series and one which both myself and the squad will look forward to," Bracewell said.

"We are now getting the volume of cricket that the team needs to take their cricket to the next level. We're also getting series against the Full Members rather than one-off games which is great.

"We have ODI's scheduled against Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Australia, South Africa, Bangladesh and New Zealand over the next year at least. Those series will give us an excellent idea of where we at in terms of progression. With home advantage in at least 15 ODI's in that period we'll certainly have plenty of opportunities to test ourselves against quality opposition."