Little chance of internationals for domestic one-day series

New Zealand will play its limited overs tri-series games in Australia next summer in one block in the New Year meaning the home domestic series is unlikely to see any international one-day players.

The Victoria Bitter Series was announced yesterday and starts on January 11 with New Zealand playing Australia in Melbourne.

That will follow New Zealand's expected home one-day series with Bangladesh and a warm-up game in Australia before the VB series.

While the New Zealand domestic season programme has still to be announced, it is unlikely to allow the country's top players to be included.

New Zealand is touring Australia for the Test match leg of the tour before Christmas and has two Tests against Bangladesh on either side of Christmas.

Meanwhile, New Zealand has not yet received an invitation to take part in the Hong Kong Sixes tournament in November this year.

The tournament will be played on November 10-11 after being off the international scene for four years.

Eight top international countries will be taking part, although the final eight have yet to be named.

While New Zealand's leading Test players will be in Australia, several one-day specialists may be available for selection if, as is expected, an invitation is issued to New Zealand during the International Cricket Council's meeting next week.

Meanwhile, New Zealand has agreed to play an Australian Country XI during what would have been a seven day break in its VB programme. The match will be played at Bowral, the home of the Sir Donald Bradman Museum.