Cricket: Tri-Nations calendar on cricket's wishlist

Justin Vaughan is optimistic more opportunities will present themselves. Photo / Getty Images

The ties that bind the Sanzar nations remain strong in rugby; what New Zealand's cricket bosses wouldn't give for an arrangement of similarly robust health.

The Future Tours Programme for international cricket over the eight-year-period starting next year has a full hand of activity for New Zealand, but a couple of notable shortfalls, against Australia and South Africa.

The South African schedule is down to timing. They visit early next year for a full tour in the final part of the old tours programme, but only come once more in the next eight years.

Australia is a different story, with only eight tests, 10 ODIs and two T20s scheduled between the transtasman neighbours.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan is disappointed, but optimistic more opportunities will present themselves.

"I think we've got the ability to try and pull in some additional games," Vaughan said. "Obviously geography works in our favour. We might not be able to get full series but may be able to get more short form series, or individual games."

In other words, spot the gaps in the respective countries' programmes and see if extra games can be squeezed in.

"We are committed to finding more playing opportunities against them and we've probably got to be creative," Vaughan said.

He said the Australians wanted to play New Zealand more often, but calendar congestion was a problem.

Still, "it's doable", Vaughan said. "It won't be easy but we get on well so I'm sure we'll find a way."

The flipside is an abundance of activity against the world's two leading teams of the moment, India and England.

Vaughan is delighted with 12 tests against India, and 11 against England, as well as plenty of one-day games.

He said at the recent International Cricket Council conference in Hong Kong, India actually sought him out, seeking more playing time against New Zealand.

The upshot is that a tour there in 2016 will include an extra test from the original plan.

"It's great. We've got a lot of content against India and England - three home tours by England which is brilliant."

Vaughan has just finished overseeing a two-day think tank at Akaroa involving NZC, major and district association representatives, players, the players' association and others involved in the game.

"It was designed to get everyone on the same page and bring together ideas on how to move the game forward in New Zealand.

"It wasn't focused on New Zealand Cricket, but on cricket in New Zealand."

The timetable

How New Zealand's future shapes up, from now until 2020

Tests (80):

12: v India, West Indies and Pakistan
11: v England
8: v Australia and Sri Lanka
7: v South Africa
6: v Bangladesh
4: v Zimbabwe

ODIs (143):

23: v England
21: v Sri Lanka
20: v India and West Indies
16: v Pakistan
15: v Zimbabwe
10: v Australia
9: v South Africa and Bangladesh

T20s (40):

7: v South Africa
6: v West Indies
5: v Sri Lanka and India
4: v England, Pakistan and Zimbabwe
3: v Bangladesh
2: v Australia