Mount Maunganui to host more Black Cap matches

Black Caps opening batsmen Kane Williamson pictured in action against Sri Lanka in the first T20 cricket international at Bay Oval in Mt Maunganui earlier this year. Photo/file

Cricket fans in the Northern Districts Cricket Association region will not have to travel far to enjoy top international cricket this coming season.

Seddon Park (Hamilton) and the Bay Oval (Mt Maunganui) will collectively host the Black Caps six times in their home summer schedule for 2016-2017.

The full schedule for Northern Districts venues is fitting of the high number of players that the region contributes to the New Zealand side, with seven players from Northern Districts currently under contract for the Black Caps.

The international season at Seddon Park starts with a Test match against Pakistan in November, followed by an ODI against Australia during Waitangi weekend, and finishes with hosting South Africa for an ODI and a Test match later in the summer.

Northern Districts CEO Peter Roach is very happy to see the return of Australia to Seddon Park.

"After the thrilling match earlier this year where the Black Caps narrowly claimed victory we are expecting another sold out crowd for this ODI as well with fans coming to Hamilton from far and wide to catch the action."

Roach says it is also pleasing to see the Bay Oval again given some quality content after their strong crowds in January 2016. The Black Caps and Bangladesh will play two Twenty20 internationals on Friday January 6 and Sunday January 8 in Mount Maunganui.

"This is a terrific venue to watch cricket and it deserves strong international content. I would expect strong demand for tickets again for this summer's matches at the Bay Oval."

ND's venues are also gearing up for a jam-packed international schedule the following summer with Seddon Park to host the West Indies for a Test in December 2017, Pakistan for a T20 in January 2018, the Australians are to return for a third consecutive season for an ODI in early February and in the same month England play the Black Caps in an ODI.

The Bay Oval will host West Indies and Pakistan in ODIs, as well as West Indies in a T20, and Whangarei will see its second ever international, and first since 2012, with the West Indies visiting Cobham Oval for an ODI.

Schedule:
Black Caps ANZ International Series to be held at Seddon Park 2016-17
•2nd ANZ Test V Pakistan - Friday 25-29 November 2016
•3rd ANZ ODI (D/N) V Australia - Sunday 5 February 2017 (public holiday Monday to follow)
•1st ANZ ODI (D/N) V South Africa - Sunday 19 February 2017
•3rd Test V South Africa - Saturday 25-29 March 2017
Black Caps ANZ International Series to be held at Bay Oval 2016-17
• 2nd ANZ T20 V Bangladesh - Friday 6 January 2017
• 3rd ANZ T20 V Bangladesh - Sunday 8 January 2017
Black Caps ANZ International Series to be held at Seddon Park 2017 -2018
•3rd ANZ Test V West Indies
•2nd ANZ T20 V Pakistan
•2nd ANZ ODI (D/N) V Australia
•1st ANZ ODI (D/N) V England
Black Caps ANZ International Series to be held at Bay Oval 2017-2018
•5th ANZ ODI V West Indies
•1st ANZ T20 V West Indies
•5th ANZ ODI V Pakistan
Black Caps ANZ International Series to be held at Cobham Oval 2017-2018
•1st ANZ ODI V West Indies