New Zealand scrap Boxing Day Test

New Zealand Cricket has decided to revamp their international season, and one of the first casualties is the Boxing Day Test match in Wellington. Martin Snedden, the NZC's chief executive, said that the new schedule - which has only one-day international matches during the holiday period - would attract a wider audience, and also allow for the Test matches to be played in better conditions a few weeks later.

Sri Lanka will be the first team to tour under these new guidelines, and their five-match one-day series will start on Boxing Day at Eden Park in Auckland. After the Sri Lankans depart, it will be the turn of Australia to visit, and the battle for Trans-Tasman bragging rights will also see the first-ever 20-overs-a-side match to be played at international level, at Eden Park on February 17. The Australians will also play five ODIs and three Tests.

December 21 Sri Lankans v Central Districts, New Plymouth
December 23 Sri Lankans v Northern Districts, Hamilton
December 26 - First one-dayer, Auckland
December 29 - Second ODI, Napier
January 2 - Third one-dayer, Queenstown
January 4 - Fourth one-dayer, Christchurch
January 8 - Fifth one-dayer, Wellington
January 10-12 - Sri Lankans v Auckland, Auckland
January 15-19 - First Test, Hamilton
January 22-26 - Second Test Wellington

February 17 - Twenty20 international, Aus v NZ, Auckland
February 19 - First one-dayer, Wellington
February 22 - Second one-dayer, Christchurch
February 26 - Third one-dayer, Auckland
March 2 - Fourth one-dayer, Hamilton
March 5 - Fifth one-dayer, Napier
March 10-14 - First Test, Christchurch
March 18-22 - Second Test, Wellington
March 26-30 - Third Test, Auckland