Blackcaps and White Ferns Face Packed Home Summer Against Cricket Heavyweights

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced a jam-packed home schedule for the 2025-26 season, with both the men's and women's teams set to host a series of high-profile international contests. The Blackcaps will welcome Australia, England, South Africa, and the West Indies, while the White Ferns will face South Africa and Zimbabwe in white-ball series.

The men's team faces a challenging season leading up to the T20 World Cup © Getty

The summer season begins with a three-match T20I series against Australia, commencing on October 1. Following this, England will tour for a series of three T20Is starting October 18 and three ODIs from October 26.

The West Indies will then arrive for an extensive tour that includes all three formats. The series starts with five T20Is beginning November 5, followed by three ODIs from November 16, and three Test matches, the first of which is scheduled for December 6.

The White Ferns also have a busy schedule with 14 white-ball matches planned.

Zimbabwe will tour New Zealand for the first time, playing a three-match T20I series starting February 25, followed by a three-match ODI series, part of the ICC Women's Championship 2025-29, beginning March 5.

A unique feature of the season will be double-header T20I matches against South Africa, where both the men's and women's teams will play on the same day. This series will run from March 15 to 25. The White Ferns will also play an additional three T20Is against South Africa Women between March 29 and April 4.

"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. "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 added, "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. We've seen fantastic crowds across the country over the past few seasons and are looking forward to that continuing this summer given the strength of the schedule."

New Zealand pace bowler Kyle Jamieson expressed his excitement for the upcoming season, 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."

Here is the schedule:

New Zealand Men's Home Schedule 2025-26

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, 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