ODI cricket returns to Basin Reserve

For the first time in almost 11 years, Wellington's Basin Reserve will host an ODI, when New Zealand take on Pakistan in January 2016. The venue will later host what is scheduled to be Brendon McCullum's 100th Test match, when Australia visit for a tour that includes the first properly contested Chappell-Hadlee one-day cup since 2010. New Zealand will also host Sri Lanka in the 2015-16 season.

Sri Lanka arrive first, and will play two Tests - in Dunedin and Hamilton - five ODIs and two Twenty20s between December 10 and January 10. The Pakistan internationals kick off on January 15, at Eden Park, with the first of three T20s, followed by three ODIs. Australia round off the home season with three ODIs and two Tests at the Basin Reserve and Christchurch's Hagley Oval.

The Australia ODIs played for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy is the first instance of the trophy being contested over multiple games as opposed to a one-off game - twice, in 2011 and 2015, just clubbed with the Australia v New Zealand group game in the World Cup - in five seasons, but it will be the start of a string of such series. Including this one, eight Chappell-Hadlee contests are scheduled on either side of the Tasman over the next seven years.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White said the matches have been spread out across the country as much as possible to allow home fans to watch their team live, to follow up on the World Cup highs. "I'd like to congratulate Wellington authorities for taking a regional approach to this process and, specifically, [Wellington's other international venue] Westpac Stadium for supporting the return of ODI cricket to the Basin Reserve," White said.

Christchurch will host the Boxing Day ODI against Sri Lanka, while Nelson gets ODIs on either side of New Year's. Wellington's Westpac Stadium gets a T20 against Pakistan and an ODI against Australia.