Cricket: NZ confident of ending big venue drought in Australia

A general view as cricket fans in the crowd enjoy the atmosphere on Boxing Day. Photo / Getty

The odds on New Zealand playing tests against Australia at premier venues the Melbourne and Sydney Cricket Grounds at the end of next year are steadily shortening.

Put it this way: don't ink in the hotels yet, but certainly have a chat with your travel agent.

Cricket Australia haven't signed off on any deals for that 2019-20 summer, in which the West Indies are pencilled in as three-test tourists into Australia.

Their stock dipped dramatically after their last visit to Australia in 2015-16 when they were flattened in two of the three tests, the third was badly rain hit, they have been in freefall for several years and noises out of Cricket Australia signalled that the days of the Windies being regarded as first tier tourists were coming to an end.

New Zealand's stock, by contrast, is high.

They are ranked fourth in all three forms, but are recognised as a tough team to beat and have several world class players, headed by captain Kane Williamson, swing bowler Trent Boult and veteran batsman Ross Taylor.

Williamson's two centuries at Brisbane and Perth on the 2015 visit drew serious appreciation from notoriously tough-to-please Australian media commentators.

New Zealand have played just two tests in Sydney — 1974 and 1985 — and three at the MCG, 1973 which kicked off New Zealand's first series against Australia, 1980 and 1987, which was a cliffhanger, going down to the final ball, as New Zealand strove unsuccessfully for the final Australian wicket.

Since then, trips to Australia have consisted of a diet of tests at Brisbane (10 matches altogether), Perth (seven), Adelaide (five) and Hobart (four).

CA historically don't particularly like two-test series, with good reason. No one really does but they have been standard in several countries, including New Zealand, where it is expensive hosting five-day matches.

And that brings the possibility that New Zealand may have three tests in Australia.

The third, if it comes off, would be before Melbourne's traditional Boxing Day test, and might even be another day-night pink ball match in Adelaide.

The first, at the same venue in late 2015, was a significant success on just about every front, crowds, lighting, ground conditions and general allround vibe.

There have now been nine worldwide — the most recent being New Zealand's outstanding innings victory over England at Eden Park in March.

Two more are scheduled this year — the West Indies against Sri Lanka in Barbados next month and Australia against Sri Lanka next January. India have refused to play one next summer, hence the Sri Lankan match, which would be second choice in CA's thinking.

And there's a strong chance of a second pink ball test in New Zealand next summer.

The home international schedule is still a few weeks away being bedded in.

However the expectation is that one of the probable five tests will be under lights against either Sri Lanka or Bangladesh.