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New Zealand invited to tri-series in Australia

New Zealand have been invited to take part in a one-day series involving Australia and England in 2006-07, but Martin Snedden, New Zealand's cricket chief, has declined to discuss the matter until Australia finalises its Ashes schedule

Cricinfo staff
14-Dec-2005


New Zealand have been offered another shot at their trans-Tasman rivals in the VB Series © Getty Images
New Zealand have been invited to take part in a one-day series involving Australia and England in 2006-07, but Martin Snedden, New Zealand's cricket chief, has declined to discuss the matter until Australia finalises its Ashes schedule.
Australia host England for the Ashes in November-December of 2006, and have offered New Zealand a spot for the VB Series in January, reports the Dominion Post. New Zealand's inclusion will be important to its World Cup campaign, considering the quality of cricket Australia and England will offer them.
At it stands, New Zealand are scheduled to play 15 one-day internationals between the end of this summer and the World Cup in March of 2007; however, their participation in the tri-series guarantees them eight additional matches, barring the best-of-three finals.
For New Zealand Cricket and Cricket Australia, the problem remains penciling in the annual Chappell-Hadlee Trophy. One possibility could be doubling the two - the first three games between the trans-Tasman rivals in the VB Series counting as the Chappell-Hadlee series - but this carries the risk of weakening the appeal of the annual match-up. Other options include hosting the event after the VB Series or squeezing it between the ICC Champions Trophy in India in November 2006 and the Ashes Brisbane Test beginning November 23.
A nine-day period remains during the second and third Ashes Tests, but Ricky Ponting, Australia's captain, has voiced his displeasure at the idea of fitting the Chappell-Hadlee series in there.
Australia won this year's edition in New Zealand 2-1, which threw up two of the most thrilling contests seen between the two teams.