2026-27 New Zealand domestic season

[RMBolton]

India A to tour New Zealand in August ahead of senior series

India A will undertake a shadow tour of New Zealand ahead of the senior team’s multi-format series in the country, with the itinerary comprising three List A matches and two first-class games that could feature a handful of players from the national Test squad.

sportstar.thehindu.com

Interesting

Blimmin' mad. At least wait for a semblance of spring in September. August? Straight up winter? That's just insane.

Do they think NZ is just like Australia, where you can just go to the northern end where it's dry season?

 

[honestbharani]

Ideally they should play in Oct since our tests in NZ are in Nov.

 

[Fuller Pilch]

India A to tour New Zealand in August ahead of senior series

India A will undertake a shadow tour of New Zealand ahead of the senior team’s multi-format series in the country, with the itinerary comprising three List A matches and two first-class games that could feature a handful of players from the national Test squad.

sportstar.thehindu.com

Interesting

Think it would be indoor nets rather than much cricket...

 

[Townes]

Are we being taken for a ride here? An Indian friend reckons the article is a satirical dig at India's performance in Ireland and England. If true, it at least makes more sense than playing cricket in NZ during August.

 

[Chubb]

I mean the NZ season is crazy long compared to Australia (which is way too short) but August is a step too far.

 

[ataraxia]

India A are occupied with a tour by Australia A from 22 September to 11 October. I reckon they probably demanded a tour, NZ refused one that would clash with the Ford Trophy and T20Is/ODIs, so now we've got something called an "August" tour but the FC games will actually be in September. Still, that will surely beat the previous record by a month...

 

[Chubb]

India A are occupied with a tour by Australia A from 22 September to 11 October. I reckon they probably demanded a tour, NZ refused one that would clash with the Ford Trophy and T20Is/ODIs, so now we've got something called an "August" tour but the FC games will actually be in September. Still, that will surely beat the previous record by a month...

Pretty sure there have been A games before the start of daylight saving before.

 

[ataraxia]

Pretty sure there have been A games before the start of daylight saving before.

Good call, 2012. List A on 18 September and FC on 26 September, all at Lincoln.

 

[straw man]

Must be time for a cricketing equivalent of Forsyth Barr stadium if we're going to host in August

 

[jcas0167]

Must be time for a cricketing equivalent of Forsyth Barr stadium if we're going to host in August

Maybe someone thought they meant indoor cricket.

 

[SteveNZ]

Ha, where are you going to play cricket in August? Christchurch would likely be dry, but could be negative temperatures. It's pissing down everywhere else.

 

[Skyliner]

NZC seem to think Mt Maunganui is a sunshine paradise all year round…a New Zealand equivalent of Darwin.

 

[Immenso]

August is actually sometimes quite nice. False spring, before the real shitty windy spring hits.

But daylight hours, and drying power of the sun is sub-optimal.

 

[SteveNZ]

NZC seem to think Mt Maunganui is a sunshine paradise all year round…a New Zealand equivalent of Darwin.

To be fair, this winter has been pretty good...but it can rain.

 

[HeathDavisSpeed]

They should give 'em a proper touring experience and make them play at the Basin at this time of year.

 

[Prince EWS]

August???

August.

 

[Smudge]

Still one contract spot left for Otago. The ODT suggests it'll be Bogue, Toby Hart or Ruben Clinton.

Otago Cricket

Otago Volts 16th Contract - Toby Hart ⚡ Otago Cricket is stoked to announce that Toby Hart is our 16th contract for the 2026/2027 Season. To read about Toby's journey to the Volts, head to the news...

www.facebook.com

Toby Hart gets the nod.

 

[NZTailender]

Otago Cricket

Otago Volts 16th Contract - Toby Hart ⚡ Otago Cricket is stoked to announce that Toby Hart is our 16th contract for the 2026/2027 Season. To read about Toby's journey to the Volts, head to the news...

www.facebook.com

Toby Hart gets the nod.

Presumably no relation to Matthew otherwise it'd be mentioned in the article.

Matthew Hart's Cricinfo profile is in the present tense too, having not been updated since 2003

 

[Skyliner]

‘Takapuna District Cricket Club fast bowler Jordan Sussex has been selected as the final recipient of an ACES contract for the 2026/27 season.

The 32-year-old has been largely absent from the ACES team sheet over the last two seasons due to injury, but his record in first-class cricket is hard to ignore.

Sussex’s 29 Plunket Shield wickets have come at an average of 20.44 and include two five-wicket hauls. His bowling figures of 8/71 against Canterbury in March 2024 were the best innings haul for the ACES since Mitchell McClenaghan's 8/23 against Otago in 2012.’

 

[Skyliner]

‘Northern Districts Cricket has named right-arm pace bowler and Counties Manukau local James Naylor as the final contracted men’s player for the 2026/27 season.

This is Naylor’s first domestic contract having been part of the ND A programme for a number of years. He made his first-class debut in November 2025, playing three games with best figures of 4/74 against the Firebirds.’