Earlier start to South Africa series in New Zealand

New Zealand's one-day international series against South Africa will start a day earlier than planned due to a clash of dates with two outdoor concerts in Auckland. The opening match of the six-game series will be played at Eden Park on February 13.

David Bowie, the rock icon is performing at Western Springs, and the Auckland Star Light Symphony is on at the Domain on the Saturday night and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have decided to bow out and play their match on Friday.

Martin Snedden, the chief executive of NZC said: "By moving the game back a day we have come up with a solution which will allow those people that want to attend the cricket to do so without having to forfeit another event they might also wish to enjoy. We are also mindful that having the three events on the same night in relatively close proximity to one another could potentially place significant pressure on the city's transport and infrastructure."

As a result, South Africa's warm-up match with the State Northern Knights at Westpac Park in Hamilton will be moved one day back from Thursday to Wednesday, February 11, to allow the South Africans an adequate break before the one-day international.