Black Caps may replace Test with ODIs

New Zealand Cricket has confirmed it will consider replacing one of next summer’s upcoming Tests against Australia with a series of one-day internationals, but it appears the proposed historic day-night Test between the neighbours will go ahead as foreshadowed.

Despite the recent paucity of Test cricket between the trans-Tasman rivals – they have not met in the Test arena since 2011 - NZ Cricket is also keen to reinstitute the lapsed Chappell-Hadlee ODI concept in the wake of this year’s World Cup Final.

A statement released by NZC today guarantees the Black Caps will play a minimum of five Tests against Australia over the coming summer (including three in Australia next November) thereby raising the prospect of a Chappell-Hadlee ODI series in lieu of a sixth Test.

It supplements reports by Fairfax Media in NZ yesterday that there was a possibility one of the Tests initially proposed to be staged in NZ would be replaced by three ODIs.

As the first meeting between the World Cup finalists since the global showpiece decider at the MCG last March, it would doubtless draw significant local spectator and international broadcast interest.

The formerly annual Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series was initiated a decade ago but has not been staged as a stand-alone even since 2010, with the trophy holder more decided recently decided by success in quadrennial World Cup fixtures.

“Nothing’s been written in stone yet regarding the Australia itinerary; no decision’s been made,” NZC Chief Executive David White said in today’s statement.

“However, we are exploring the possibility of having the best of both worlds – five Tests over the summer against Australia (three away; two at home), together with the revival of the Chappell-Hadlee one-day series on a sustainable basis.

“We make no apology for wanting a closer working relationship with Cricket Australia.

“Regular competition against one of the best sides in the world is healthy for the Black Caps, NZC and all the stakeholders in our game.”

While no firm agreement has been reached and discussions between NZC and Cricket Australia are ongoing, the Fairfax report claims Cricket Australia was “very receptive” to the proposal.

CA is looking to finalise details of the upcoming summer’s home schedule – which includes Tests against NZ and the West Indies as well as limited-overs matches against India – at next Friday’s scheduled board meeting.

While the broad guidelines of the ICC’s Future Tours Program mandate that each Test-playing nation should play a minimum number of Tests and against all rivals within a four-year cycle, the breakdown of individual series are the subject of bilateral agreements between the competing nations.

Even though the Black Caps boast an impressive recent Test record – they are undefeated in their past seven series and this week secured their first Test match win on English soil this century – it is their ODI outfit that secured a placed in the nation’s sporting heart.

The success of Brendon McCullum’s team in reaching their first World Cup final earlier this year after a string of stirring wins including a victory over eventual champions Australia in Auckland generated huge support in a nation where cricket has long existed in rugby’s shadow.

“We’re now standing on the cusp of a new era in New Zealand cricket – an era in which we can expect significantly more international cricket on our shores,” White said in the statement.

“It used to be that two inbound tours each summer was the norm.

“But we have three inbound tours this summer (Pakistan and Sri Lanka in addition to Australia next February), after which we will have four international teams visiting in 2016-17 and another four in 2017-18.

“There will be no shortage of either Test or ODI cricket for our supporters.

“These are exciting times; interest in the Blackcaps has never been higher.”

The continuing talks with CA in relation to the upcoming schedule will also focus on CA’s proposal to stage the first day-night Test match when the Black Caps tour Australia at year’s end, with the Adelaide Oval believed to be a front-runner to host the historic event.

While NZC were broadly supportive of the concept when it was initially floated last year, recent reports have indicated strong opposition from New Zealand players who feel their limited experience with the pink ball in first-class conditions under lights would place them at a disadvantage.

The head of the NZ Cricket Players Association, Heath Mills, last month revealed details of a survey that showed 17 of NZC's 20 contracted players were against the plan to play a day-night Test match.

The concept of day-night Tests was given a further boost recently when the ICC’s Cricket Committee – of which White is a member – strongly recommended that the introduction of Test cricket under lights could help address dwindling crowd numbers worldwide for the game’s long-form.

White, who was unable to attend the committee’s meeting in Mumbai last month, told Fairfax that the initial opposition from Black Caps players to playing in unfamiliar conditions in a Test series where they will be chasing their first series win in Australia for 30 years was beginning to soften.

“We've made it very clear that we're not prepared to go ahead unless the players support the concept,” White reportedly said.

“(But) I've had some really good discussions with the players over the last week and the concept is definitely not dead."