New Zealand announce Rose Bowl fixtures

New Zealand will host matches away from their home at Lincoln for the first time in five years when they take on Australia in the Rose Bowl in 2008-09. New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has announced the fixtures for the five-match series, which will be held in the first two weeks of February 2009.

The contest begins with matches at Cobham Oval in Whangaeri on February 1 and 3, followed by games at Hamilton's Seddon Park on February 6 and 8, and concludes at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on February 12. Justin Vaughan, the chief executive of NZC, said the games would be the ideal preparation for New Zealand ahead of the World Cup the following month.

"The opportunity to get the team around the country away from their base in Lincoln is great for the women's game," Vaughan said. "Holding matches at Cobham Oval will be great for cricket in Whangarei and Northland after that ground has undergone renewal.

"The match at the Basin Reserve also allows a celebration of the 75-year anniversary of women's cricket in the capital. Beating the world champions is always the benchmark and it will be an important to do that to start such an important year."

New Zealand's past 15 home ODIs have all been held in Lincoln. Next year they will be competing for the World Twenty20 title at the tournament in England in June following the World Cup in Australia.

"It will be great to get the team out around the country in a year which sees them contending for two world titles," the coach Gary Stead said. "To reclaim the Rose Bowl from the Southern Stars ahead of the World Cup and World Twenty20 will be a boost for the team."