New Zealand Cricket’s 2025-26 home calendar will test both national sides from spring right through to early autumn. Australia, England, West Indies and South Africa are on the men’s itinerary, while the women host Zimbabwe for the first time and then share T20I double-headers with South Africa after the next women’s ODI World Cup.
Australia open proceedings with three T20Is at Mount Maunganui in early October. England arrive a fortnight later for three T20Is and three ODIs spread across Christchurch, Auckland, Mount Maunganui, Hamilton and Wellington. West Indies then settle in for a six-week stay from 5 November, playing five T20Is, three ODIs and a rare three-Test series that finishes on 22 December. Once the men return from the February T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, South Africa follow for five T20Is between 15 and 25 March, all slotted alongside identical women’s fixtures at the same grounds.
The White Ferns’ programme is lighter before Christmas because of their ODI World Cup commitments on the subcontinent. After that tournament they meet Zimbabwe for three ODIs and three T20Is in February–March, then switch straight into the South Africa double-headers and round things off with a stand-alone three-match ODI series stretching into early April.
Add it all together and the country will stage 46 days of international cricket across nine venues.
“It feels like a marquee summer,” Kyle Jamieson said in an NZC release. “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.”
For the women, the run-in to their World Cup title defence is clear-cut: focus on India and Sri Lanka first, return home and play plenty. “We can’t wait for the international season and the chance to play in another ICC Cricket World Cup,” Georgia Plimmer said. “We want to play as much cricket as we can, especially in front of our home fans and it’s exciting to have a 14-game home summer to prepare for. It’s great to see more T20I doubleheaders as they are such a great experience for teams and fans alike and it was awesome to see such strong crowds last season.”
Nine different grounds get a slice of the action, with Mount Maunganui handling six men’s fixtures before Christmas and Christchurch starting and finishing the England limited-overs leg. NZC has again avoided overlapping domestic Super Smash dates with internationals, an approach administrators believe boosts both attendances and television figures.
The scheduling also means supporters can watch every major men’s Test opponent except India within a single season, something that rarely happens this far south. England’s ODI visit, meanwhile, provides a rematch of the gripping 2023 World Cup semi-final in Pune.
A few logistical questions linger. The men re-assemble almost straight after the T20 World Cup, so player workload—especially for multi-format names such as Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra and Tim Southee—will need careful monitoring. On the women’s side, a maiden Zimbabwe tour creates a fresh contest but travel costs for a short six-match visit could prove expensive.
Still, the overall verdict from coaches and commercial partners is positive. The breadth of opponents should keep broadcasters happy, while the double-headers give the White Ferns prime evening slots that have traditionally belonged to the men. Ticket bundles are expected to go on sale in late July, with NZC again trialling family sections and discounted junior prices.
In short, plenty of cricket, little dead time and a fair mix of formats. If the weather behaves, the 2025-26 season might feel as packed on the pitch as it does on paper.
