Kevin Pietersen and England are due in January. Photo / Reuters
Dunedin will host a test match for the first time in a decade when New Zealand and Bangladesh play at University Oval early in January.
New Zealand have not played a test in Dunedin since the second test against Sri Lanka in March 1997 - a match won
by an innings and 36 runs to preserve the Black Caps' unbeaten record there over 10 tests stretching back to 1955.
Those tests were all played at Carisbrook, which has fallen out of favour as an international cricket and rugby venue.
The second of the two tests against Bangladesh will be played at Wellington's Basin Reserve.
NZ Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan said he was looking forward to test cricket returning to the southern outpost.
"Otago Cricket and the Dunedin City Council are working very hard to prepare the University Oval to international standards and we are looking forward to it holding its first test match."
NZC has formalised a busy domestic calendar for the Black Caps, dovetailed between a tour of South Africa in November; the annual Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series in Australia and a tour of England in May-June.
Bangladesh will also play three one-day internationals here.
England arrive on January 28 for a two-month tour comprising three tests, five ODIs, two Twenty20 matches and games against Canterbury and Otago.
Wellington hosts the second England test. Hamilton's Seddon Park is the venue of the series opener while McLean Park in Napier has been awarded the third rubber.
Jade Stadium and Eden Park have been overlooked as test venues though they will host Twenty20 and ODIs while being redeveloped for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
Queenstown again has the traditional New Year's Eve match - this time involving Bangladesh.
- NZPA
