New Zealand will be hosting Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Australia beginning from December 2015.
©REUTERS / Action Images
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New Zealand unveil jam-packed home season for 2015-16
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have announced a hectic home season for the summer starting from December this year with the country slated to host Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Australia back-to-back.
The combined schedule of the three itineraries released by the NZC adds up to four Tests, 11 One-Day Internationals and five Twenty20 Internationals.
Sri Lanka are set to arrive first in December to play a two-match Test series that will be followed by five ODIs and two T20Is to be held from 10th December 2015 to 10th January 2016.
The other Asian side, Pakistan, will then arrive in January for a short limited-overs tour that includes three ODIs and as many T20Is spread over a period of two weeks.
The biggest phase of the New Zealand summer will be the visit of their trans-Tasman rivals Australia with the two teams slated to face off in two Tests and three ODIs to wrap up what promises to be a riveting home season for the BlackCaps.
New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum expressed his happiness at the schedule for the home season which he feels will be a true test of his side’s skills.
After a tremendous 18 months in all forms of the game, McCullum hopes that New Zealand will consolidate on the momentum during the summer.
"Looking at this schedule, there's some really exciting opposition in front of us," said McCullum.
"So hopefully we can build on what we did last year and also at the World Cup, drive this team forward and keep improving our performances."
A spate of injuries including recurring back pain has hampered McCullum over the years with the flamboyant batsman missing out on New Zealand’s tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa recently.
As per the schedule, the first Test of the Australia series next year will be McCullum’s 100th match and speculation is rife regarding the skipper’s possible retirement after the feat is achieved.
When asked about these possible retirement plans, McCullum chose not to give a straight answer to the question.
"I'm not sure, we'll see what unfolds," he said.
"It'd be great to achieve that, to play 100 Tests. It's something you could look back on and be very proud of, but it's not what motivates me."
In a major development, the Basin Reserve in Wellington will be hosting its first ODI in 11 years when Pakistan play New Zealand during the summer next year.
New Zealand v Sri Lanka 2015/16 Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
| 10th December | 1st Test | Dunedin |
| 18th December | 2nd Test | Hamilton |
| 26th December | 1st ODI | Christchurch |
| 28th December | 2nd ODI | Christchurch |
| 31st December | 3rd ODI | Nelson |
| 2nd January | 4th ODI | Nelson |
| 5th January | 5th ODI | Mt Maunganui |
| 7th January | 1st T20I | Mt Maunganui |
| 10th January | 2nd T20I | Auckland |
New Zealand v Pakistan 2016 Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
| 15th January | 1st T20I | Auckland |
| 17th January | 2nd T20I | Hamilton |
| 22nd January | 3rd T20I | Westpac Stadium |
| 25th January | 1st ODI | Basin Reserve |
| 28th January | 2nd ODI | Napier |
| 31st January | 3rd ODI | Auckland |
New Zealand v Australia 2016 Schedule
| Date | Match | Venue |
| 3rd February | 1st ODI | Auckland |
| 6th February | 2nd ODI | Westpac Stadium |
| 8th February | 3rd ODI | Hamilton |
| 12th February | 1st Test | Basin Reserve |
| 20th February | 2nd Test | Christchurch |
© Cricket World 2015
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