Black Caps Prepare for Blockbuster Home Summer Against Cricket's Elite

New Zealand is gearing up for a thrilling home summer of cricket in 2025-26, with the men's team set to face off against Australia, England, West Indies, and South Africa in a series of matches across various formats. The New Zealand Cricket (NZC) announced the schedule, which also includes a twin white-ball series for the women's team against South Africa and Zimbabwe.

Black Caps prepare for a busy season leading up to the T20 World Cup. © Getty

The action begins with a three-match T20I series against Australia, starting on October 1st. Following this, England will visit for a white-ball series featuring three T20Is (starting October 18th) and three ODIs (starting October 26th).

The West Indies will then arrive for an extensive tour, commencing with a five-match T20I series on November 5th. This will be followed by three ODIs, starting November 16th, and three Test matches, with the first Test beginning on December 6th.

The White Ferns, fresh from the ODI World Cup 2025 in India and Sri Lanka, will play 14 white-ball games at home starting early next year.

Notably, the New Zealand women's team will host Zimbabwe for the first time, in a three-match T20I series starting on February 25th, followed by a three-match ODI series, part of the next ICC Women's Championship 2025-29, starting March 5th.

A five-match T20I series against South Africa will be played as double-headers alongside the men's matches from March 15th to 25th. The White Ferns will also play three ODIs against South Africa between March 29th and April 4th.

"It's great to welcome such a diverse range of opponents for both the Blackcaps and White Ferns, and especially pleasing for NZC to host the first-ever series between Zimbabwe and New Zealand women," said NZC Chief Executive Scott Weenink. He further added, "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."

Weenink emphasized the excitement surrounding the home summer, building on the momentum of the ICC Men's T20 World Cup and the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup. He anticipates strong crowd support, given the quality of the schedule.

Pace bowler Kyle Jamieson echoed the sentiment, stating, "It feels like a marquee summer. The calibre of opposition means we'll be constantly tested for the duration of the season and that's what you want as a cricketer. It's great to have another three-Test series at home and I'm sure the fans will get in behind the Test team as they have in seasons gone by. It's always special to play in front of a home crowd and we're hoping Kiwis will get out in force to support us once again this summer."

Match Schedule Overview:

• vs Australia
  • 1st T20I, Bay Oval, Wednesday, 1 October 2025, 19:15
  • 2nd T20I, Bay Oval, Friday, 3 October 2025, 19:15
  • 3rd T20I, Bay Oval, Saturday, 4 October 2025, 19:15
• vs England
  • 1st T20I, Hagley Oval, Saturday, 18 October 2025, 19:15
  • 2nd T20I, Hagley Oval, Monday, 20 October 2025, 19:15
  • 3rd T20I, Eden Park, Thursday, 23 October 2025, 19:15
  • 1st ODI, Bay Oval, Sunday, 26 October 2025, 14:00
  • 2nd ODI, Seddon Park, Wednesday, 29 October 2025, 14:00
  • 3rd ODI, Sky Stadium, Saturday, 1 November 2025, 14:00
• vs West Indies
  • 1st T20I, Eden Park, Wednesday, 5 November 2025, 19:15
  • 2nd T20I, Eden Park, Thursday, 6 November 2025, 19:15
  • 3rd T20I, Saxton Oval, Sunday, 9 November 2025, 13:15
  • 4th T20I, Saxton Oval, Monday, 10 November 2025, 13:15
  • 5th T20I, University of Otago Oval, Thursday, 13 November 2025, 13:15
  • 1st ODI, Hagley Oval, Sunday, 16 November 2025, 14:00
  • 2nd ODI, McLean Park, Wednesday, 19 November 2025, 14:00
  • 3rd ODI, Seddon Park, Saturday, 22 November 2025, 14:00
  • 3-dayer, Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Wednesday, 26 - Friday, 28 November 2025, 11:00
  • 1st Test, Hagley Oval, Tuesday 2 - Saturday 6 December 2025, 11:00
  • 2nd Test, Cello Basin Reserve, Wednesday 10 - Sunday 14 December 2025, 11:00
  • 3rd Test, Bay Oval, Thursday 18 - Monday 22 December 2025, 11:00

New Zealand Women's home schedule 2025-26

• vs Zimbabwe
  • 1st T20I, Seddon Park, Wednesday 25 February 2026, 19:15
  • 2nd T20I, Seddon Park, Friday 27 February 2026, 19:15
  • 3rd T20I, Seddon Park, Sunday, 1 March 2026, 13:15
  • 1st ODI, University of Otago Oval, Thursday, 5 March 2026, 11:00
  • 2nd ODI, University of Otago Oval, Sunday, 8 March 2026, 11:00
  • 3rd ODI, University of Otago Oval, University of Otago Oval, Wednesday, 11 March 2026, 11:00

New Zealand Women and Men vs South Africa - T20I Doubleheaders

• 1st T20I, Bay Oval, Sunday, 15 March 2026, 14:45 & 19:15
• 2nd T20I, Seddon Park, Tuesday, 17 March 2026, 14:45 & 19:15
• 3rd T20I, Eden Park, Friday, 20 March 2026, 14:45 & 19:15
• 4th T20I, Sky Stadium, Sunday, 22 March 2026, 14:45 & 19:15
• 5th T20I, Hagley Oval, Wednesday, 25 March 2026, 14:45 & 19:15

vs South Africa

• 1st ODI, Hagley Oval, Sunday, 29 March 2026, 14:00
• 2nd ODI, Cello Basin Reserve, Wednesday, 1 April 2026, 11:00
• 3rd ODI, Cello Basin Reserve, Saturday, 4 April 2026, 11:00