No test but twin T20s for Dunedin

PHOTO: ODT FILES

The wait goes on.

And on. And on.

New Zealand Cricket has confirmed its home schedule for the summer and Dunedin has missed out on one of the prized tests against England.

The Black Caps will host the English in three tests in November and December.

The first test gets under way at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on November 28. The Basin Reserve and Hamilton’s Seddon Park are also on the bill.

The University Oval has not been completely forgotten.

It will host a T20 double-header on March 18. The White Ferns will play Sri Lanka in the early game and the Black Caps will defend their unbeaten record at the venue against Pakistan later in the day.

But you have to wind the clock back to 2017 for the last time the Black Caps donned white clothing at the venue.

They hosted South Africa. Kane Williamson scored a century. Dean Elgar scored a century. And Morne Morkel, urged on by the student section of the crowd, sculled a bottle of water and emptied the final few drops on his head.

It was marvellous fun but it was also eight seasons ago.

Outgoing Dunedin Venues chief executive Terry Davies has promised test cricket will return to the city.

"I’m absolutely confident of that," he said.

"But there are only a limited number of matches and everyone wants a piece of the action.

"But I’ve got to say, I think Jayden [Tohill] and the [ground staff] out at the University Oval have done a phenomenal job.

"Six or seven years ago I don’t think New Zealand Cricket would have felt that the University Oval was up to test match standard. But I think that is different now.

"Now it is up to New Zealand Cricket to bring something down and I’m confident we’ll see test cricket in Dunedin in the future."

There are six inbound tours confirmed for the 2024-25 international summer.

The programme starts with the Black Caps much-anticipated three-match test series against England before Christmas and ends with the White Ferns hosting Australia’s T20 side in late March.

The Australia women’s ODI team, Sri Lanka men and women, and the Pakistan men’s side will also tour New Zealand.

There will be up to 41 days of cricket in eight cities. All of the games will be broadcast free-to-air and live on TVNZ.

The Black Caps fly to Pakistan in February for a tri-series against the hosts and South Africa before starting their ICC Champions Trophy campaign, ahead of returning home for five T20Is and three ODIs against Pakistan in March.

The White Ferns play a three-match Rose Bowl ODI series against Australia at the Basin Reserve in the week before Christmas, and will host a multi-format tour by Sri Lanka in March, before a three-game T20 series against Australia.

Their last five T20Is will be played as double-headers alongside Black Caps-Pakistan T20Is.