Cricket: Heavy diet of one dayers for Black Caps

Black Caps batsman Nathan Astle in action. Picture / Simon Baker

The Black Caps will face a heavy diet of "fast food" cricket in the build-up to next year's cricket World Cup.

New Zealand will play two Twenty20 matches, two tests and five one-day internationals (ODI) against Sri Lanka in December 2006 and January 2007 under the tour itinerary announced today.

This will be followed by the three-match ODI series for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy against holder Australia in February.

The first test against Sri Lanka begins at Jade Stadium, Christchurch on December 7. The second test, at the Basin Reserve in Wellington, starts on December 15.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) chief executive Martin Snedden said the decision to play two Twenty20 matches in place of an extra test against Sri Lanka was made both for climatic reasons and because the Twenty20 format had more potential to develop players for next year's World Cup and Twenty20 World Cup.

Westpac Stadium (January 22) will host the first Twenty20 match with the second one at Eden Park on January 26.

"We decided that the risk of playing three test matches pre-Christmas was too great," Snedden said.

"The weather tends to be unsettled at this time of year and playing the extra test would have seen the first match played in late November.

"The amount of test cricket scheduled for the Black Caps in the next 18 months is minimal.

"We believe it is more beneficial to concentrate on the one-day game as we lead into the World Cup and to prepare players for the Twenty20 World Cup."

Hamilton's Seddon Park would host the fifth ODI against Sri Lanka on January 9, and the third ODI against Australia on February 20.

"We are pleased to be returning international cricket to Seddon Park in Hamilton after a one season break," Snedden said.

"There has been a significant investment by the Hamilton City Council to improve the pitch, outfield and to provide new practice facilities.

The second ODI against Sri Lanka was provisionally allocated to Queenstown.

"We still need to work through some outstanding issues before we can confirm this venue," Snedden said, without elaborating.

Sri Lanka fixtures:

Nov 30-Dec 3 - v Otago at University Oval, Dunedin; Dec 7 -11, first test, Jade Stadium, Christchurch; Dec 15-19, second test , Basin Reserve, Wellington; Dec 22 - first Twenty20 International, Westpac Stadium, Wellington; Dec 26: second Twenty20 International, Eden Park, Auckland; Dec 28: first ODI, McLean Park, Napier; Dec 31: second ODI, Queenstown Events Centre (provisional); Jan 2: third ODI, Jade Stadium, Christchurch; Jan 6: fourth ODI, Eden Park, Auckland; Jan 9: fifth ODI, Seddon Park, Hamilton.

Australia fixtures: Feb 16: first ODI, Westpac Stadium, Wellington; Feb 18: second ODI, Eden Park, Auckland (to be confirmed); Feb 20: third ODI, Seddon Park, Hamilton.

- NZPA