24-06-2025
Windies returning to University Oval
Dunedin will get four days of international cricket this summer but see just two of the six inbound teams.
The Black Caps will play the West Indies in a T20 at the University Oval on November 13, while the White Ferns will host three one-dayers at the ground against Zimbabwe on March 5, 8 and 11.
There is plenty of action in the home international schedule announced by New Zealand Cricket this morning.
The Black Caps will host three T20s against Australia, three T20s and three ODIs against England, a full plate against the West Indies consisting of five T20s, three ODIs and three tests, and five T20s against South Africa.
Apart from the Zimbabwe series, the White Ferns will get five T20s against South Africa — doubleheaders with the men — followed by three ODIs.
The West Indies clash will be the fifth men's T20 international held at the University Oval.
It will also mark a return to Dunedin by the West Indies for the first time since they played a test at the ground in 2008.
Test lovers hoping to see the University Oval back in favour for the pure form of the sport for the first time since the Black Caps played South Africa in a test in March 2017 will again be disappointed.
Christchurch, Wellington and Tauranga are the host cities for an anaemic summer of test action.
The three-test series against the West Indies in December marks the start of the Black Caps's fourth World Test Championship cycle.
White-ball cricket is understandably the focus before the Black Caps head to yet another T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka in January-March.
The Zimbabwe games will be the first one-dayers for the White Ferns in Dunedin since the 2022 World Cup.
It is also the first series against the African nation for the New Zealand women, who have their own ICC Cricket World Cup between late September and early November.
In all, there are 46 days of international cricket scattered across nine venues.
Otago and Black Caps pace bowler Jacob Duffy, armed with a central contract and set to see plenty of international action, is primed for a big summer.
"Four world cricket powerhouses coming here is exciting," Duffy told New Zealand Cricket.
''For me it's even more so as that's four teams I've never played against.
"I'm really looking forward to the T20 series. We saw the fans show up in big numbers last season for the T20s and that was awesome to play in front of packed houses across New Zealand, so hopefully more of that to come.
"West Indies in Dunedin is a circle in the calendar kind of game for me.
"I always love playing at the University of Otago Oval. The Dunedin people always show up to support.
"It's not the biggest ground but you get a few thousand in there and it creates a great atmosphere. I've had two games there in past couple of years and I've loved every minute of it.
"To have my family friends there is really special and to play in front of the Otago people is something I always savour."
Duffy said he was also excited to prepare for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series against Australia, while he expected an England team to arrive with plenty of confidence and flair.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive Scott Weenink said he was excited at the summer ahead.
"It's great to welcome such a diverse range of opponents for both the Black Caps and White Ferns, and especially pleasing for NZC to host the first-ever series between Zimbabwe and New Zealand women,' he said.
"Fans will see top-tier cricket across all our major centres, with the doubleheaders against South Africa offering a chance to watch the very best female and male cricketers in the world on display in a unique day-out experience.
"We're thrilled to build this exciting home summer around the ICC Men's T20 World Cup and on the back of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup, giving our players a chance to shine on the global stage as well as at home in front of their own fans." 2025-26 season Home schedule
BLACK CAPS
v Australia, October 1-4: Three T20s at Bay Oval.
v England, October 18-November 1: Three T20s (two Hagley Oval, one Eden Park), three ODIs (Bay Oval, Seddon Park, Sky Stadium).
v West Indies, November 5-December 22: Five T20s (two Eden Park, two Saxton Oval, University Oval), three ODIs (Hagley Oval, McLean Park, Seddon Park), three tests (Hagley Oval, Basin Reserve, Bay Oval).
v South Africa, March 15-25: Five T20s (Bay Oval, Seddon Park, Eden Park, Sky Stadium, Hagley Oval).
WHITE FERNS
v Zimbabwe, February 25-March 11: Three T20s at Seddon Park, three ODIs at University Oval
v South Africa, March 15-April 4: Five T20s (doubleheaders with Black Caps), three ODIs (Hagley Oval, two at Basin Reserve)
