New Zealand Confirms 2024-25 Home Schedule
New Zealand Cricket (NZC) confirmed the complete schedule for their 2024-25 home season on July 17. The BlackCaps are set to host a series of exciting matches against top cricketing nations, with some fixtures coinciding with major international tournaments.
England and Sri Lanka Tour
New Zealand’s home season kicks off with a two-Test series against England. This will be followed by a three-match T20I and ODI series against Sri Lanka, promising thrilling cricket action for the fans.
Post-Champions Trophy Series with Pakistan
After the ICC Men’s Champions Trophy, which will be hosted in Pakistan, New Zealand will face Pakistan in a five-match T20I series followed by a three-match ODI series on home turf. The T20I series will be held in March, with the ODI series extending into the first week of April 2025. This series will coincide with the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2025, posing potential scheduling conflicts.
IPL 2025 Clash and Player Availability
The clash with IPL 2025 raises questions about the availability of New Zealand players for the entirety of the tournament. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) will seek confirmation on player participation ahead of the mega auction. In the IPL 2024 season, New Zealand toured Pakistan in the latter half of April for a five-T20I series, which saw key players like Kane Williamson, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult, Rachin Ravindra, and Daryl Mitchell in action.
Leadership Decisions Await
New Zealand’s ODI captaincy is yet to be decided after Kane Williamson stepped down following the early exit from the T20 World Cup 2024. Tom Latham is a strong candidate, having led New Zealand to 28 wins from 44 ODIs. However, head coach Gary Stead emphasized that no final decision has been made yet.
Coach Stead’s Perspective
“We’re not at the stage of confirming it yet, so I don’t want to speculate whether Tom will be or not,” Stead said. “But he’s certainly one guy that will be in discussions around that role. The important thing is whoever is in place, we want in place for two to three years or so, leading to that next [ODI] World Cup.”
Latham’s Aspiration
Tom Latham expressed his willingness to take up the captaincy ahead of the Champions Trophy 2025. “It would obviously be a real honour,” Latham said. “For me, it’s always been about trying to put the team first as best as possible, and I’m sure they’ll have those discussions around what they want from a team point of view. Certainly, if I get the opportunity to do that, it would be really special.”
Conclusion
The upcoming home season for New Zealand promises a blend of challenging fixtures and exciting cricket. As the team gears up for these matches, the leadership decisions and player availability for IPL 2025 will be closely watched by fans and analysts alike.(cricket betting sites)