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Rediff.com  » Cricket » India open New Zealand tour with ODI on Jan 19

India open New Zealand tour with ODI on Jan 19

September 10, 2013 15:59 IST
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India’s cricket team will open its tour of New Zealand with the first of five One-day Internationals in Napier on January 19, 2014, while Auckland and Wellington will stage the two Tests in the series.

The Indian team’s tour will see Test cricket return to Eden Park after the success of this year's England Test, which was attended by 39,000 fans.

The second Test will be at the country's premier Test venue, the Hawkins Basin Reserve, which was sold out on the Saturday of the England Test.

Eden Park stadium"Hamilton's Seddon Park will host two One-Day Internationals, while Aucklanders and Wellingtonians will get to enjoy both a Test and an ODI when the Indians tour this summer," read a statement from New Zealand Cricket.

The series against the current ICC World Cup champions also features a two-day warm-up game in Whangarei before the Test series.

The Indian tour follows three Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20s against the West Indies -- giving New Zealand fans 37 days of international cricket at home this summer.

New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive David White said it will be an Indian summer in the Waikato.

"We felt that with the Tests in Wellington and Auckland, that Hamilton was the best spot for a second one-dayer with a large Indian population on their doorstep," he said.

International and domestic broadcasters request that ODIs are day-night matches played under lights, and White said only four New Zealand venues have permanent lights.

Northern Districts Chief Executive Peter Roach said they're excited about hosting the world champion ODI team on two occasions.

"Seddon Park will soon feel like a second home to the Indian team as they are also scheduled for a Cricket World Cup fixture in Hamilton in 2015," he said.

"India is a much-loved team with a large number of passionate supporters, and our fans will be eager to see how the BLACKCAPS, after recent success in one-dayers, go against the best one year out from hosting the World Cup," he added.

Central Districts Chief Executive Hugh Henderson is delighted to be hosting the opening game in Napier.

"The Indian team are a huge drawcard throughout the world so the opportunity to host them on a Sunday in January will be fantastic for the region."

White said while it's disappointing not to be able to take an Indian match to the South Island, there are two ODIs and a Test there in the West Indies tour as well as plenty of action in the south during CWC 2015.

The schedule:

January 19, 2014: First ODI, McLean Park, Napier

January 22: Second ODI, Seddon Park, Hamilton

January 25: Third ODI, Eden Park, Auckland

January 28: Fourth ODI, Seddon Park, Hamilton

January 31: Fifth ODI, Westpac Stadium, Wellington

February 2-3: New Zealand 'A' v India, Cobham Oval, Whangarei

February 6-10: First Test, Eden Park, Auckland

February 14-18: Second Test,Hawkins Basin Reserve, Wellington.

Image: Eden Park stadium in Auckland

Photograph: Gareth Copley/Getty Images

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