New Zealand are set to play in the ICC World Test Championship final in England in June, but beyond their red-ball matches, they have plenty of fixtures in the limited-overs format this year — here’s a look at New Zealand’s cricket schedule for 2021.
New Zealand, the first finalists of the World Test Championship in 2021, will play just two more Test series and three more Tests other than the big final in the year. New Zealand cricket schedule for 2021 includes six ODIs and 11 T20Is in 2021 aside from the ICC T20 World Cup in India. The Kiwis played the last Test of the Pakistan series at the start of the year and will now next play a series in England just before the WTC final in June.
Note: A few tournaments below are based on the ICC 2018-2023 FTP and reports, but are yet to be confirmed by individual boards.
The complete New Zealand schedule for 2021 is as below:
Australia in New Zealand (February-March)
Five T20Is
With the T20 World Cup in sight, New Zealand host Australia for a five-match T20I series at home starting February 22. With Australia initially planning to play a Test series in South Africa around the same time, none of them feature in the T20I squad for this series.
Bangladesh in New Zealand (February-March)
Three ODIs and three T20Is
Bangladesh arrive in New Zealand in February for a limited-overs series with three One Day Internationals and as many T20Is. The Black Caps have never lost an international game against Bangladesh in New Zealand in 26 attempts.
New Zealand in England (June)
Two Tests
New Zealand have in their cricket schedule for 2021 a bilateral Test series in England, an ideal preparation ahead of the WTC final in the same country. These matches do not come under the World Test Championship.
ICC World Test Championship final (June)
New Zealand will take on one of England, India or Australia in the inaugural World Test Championship final at the Lord’s from June 18-22 with June 23 kept as a reserve day. After losing four of their first five WTC matches, New Zealand made a strong comeback to be the first team in the finals.
New Zealand in Pakistan (September–October)
Three ODIs and three T20Is
New Zealand have confirmed a historic tour to Pakistan later this year with three ODIs and as many T20Is. It will be their first tour of the country since 2003.
ICC T20 World Cup 2021 (October-November)
The 2021 men’s T20 World Cup will be held in India in October -November. New Zealand were one of the first nine teams to qualify for the event based on ICC T20I team rankings.
Bangladesh in New Zealand (December-January)
Two Tests and three T20Is
Bangladesh have a second tour of New Zealand late in the year according to the FTP with them set to play two Test matches and three T20Is with the limited-overs leg set to being next year.
