Cricket: NZ to host Sheffield Shield game

Western Australia will play NSW in a Sheffield Shield game in Lincoln. Photo / Getty

Another first for New Zealand cricket.

Following fast on the announcement that New Zealand will play Australia in the first day-night cricket test in November, it will also host a Sheffield Shield match in February.

It will be the first time an Australian domestic first-class game has been be played outside Australia. The match, between New South Wales and Western Australia, will be played at Lincoln from February 3-6.

The idea is the match will give Australia's players some preparation ahead of their two-test series in New Zealand in March.

The first round of the shield will involve day-night matches in Adelaide, Melbourne and Hobart in the last week of October ahead of the day-night test.

New Zealand's three tests in November have been confirmed for Brisbane (November 5-9), Perth (November 3-17) and Adelaide (November 27-December 1). Adelaide will host the inaugural day-night test.

Australia's international summer schedule also includes three tests against the West Indies in Hobart, Melbourne and Sydney from December 10 to January 7, and five ODIs and three T20 internationals against India running through January.