Once considered the easy beats of international cricket, Bangladesh have beaten Zimbabwe, India, South Africa and New Zealand in ODI series in the last few years. This year they beat England in a test match and finished runner-up in the prestigious Asia Cup, beating Sri Lanka and Pakistan before losing to India in the Asia Cup final.
The Black Caps verses Bangladesh Twenty20 on Friday, January 6 will be the 80th international or NZ Cricket Major Association match played at the ground in less than a decade. The first was on December 7, 2007 when Northern Spirit played Canterbury in a NZC Women's T20 game.
On Auckland Anniversary weekend of January 28-30, Bay of Plenty will defend the Hawke Cup, the symbol of NZC Minor Association cricket supremacy, in a three-day game against Zone One challenger Counties Manukau.
Bay of Plenty won the prestigious piece of silverware for the fifth time, when they beat Hawke's Bay late last season. The defence is the first of four challenges set down between January and March.
Transtasman women's cricket returns to the Oval when the White Ferns square off against Australiaon March 2 and March 5 in the ODI Rosebowl series.
The White Ferns and Southern Stars have a hectic schedule leading up to the two Bay Oval games. They play three Twenty20 encounters in Australia, before the first ODI at Eden Park Outer Ground on February 26.
Summer of Cricket at the Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui
McDonald's Super Smash
Tuesday, December 27: Knights v Auckland Aces 4.10pm start
Thursday, December 29: Knights v Canterbury Kings 4.10pm start
ICC Twenty 20
Friday, January 6: NZ Black Caps v Bangladesh 3pm start
Sunday, January 8: NZ Black Caps v Bangladesh 3pm start
NZ Cricket Hawke Cup
January 28-30: Bay of Plenty (holders) v Counties Manukau
ICC Women's ODI
March 2: White Ferns v Australian Women (Rosebowl game Two)
March 5: White Ferns v Australian Women (Rosebowl game Three)
