PM's XI to open summer of cricket

Manuka Oval is set to launch Australia’s international cricket summer, with the annual Prime Minister’s XI match taking place at the Canberra venue on October 23 against New Zealand.

The match will be the Black Caps’ first official match on Australian shores before the first Commonwealth Bank Test match in Brisbane, beginning November 5.

“I’m delighted that the Prime Minister’s XI will open the upcoming summer of international cricket,” said Prime Minister Tony Abbott.

“I look forward to welcoming the New Zealand team to Canberra to add another chapter to the strong friendship between our two countries.”

The Prime Minister’s XI team will be selected by Cricket Australia’s National Selection Panel with input from the Prime Minister, and will be announced closer to the match.

“The Prime Minister’s XI fixture has always been an important annual event on the Australian cricket calendar and we’re pleased this year that it will open our international season,” said Cricket Australia Chief Executive Officer, James Sutherland.

“New Zealand is one of the most competitive teams on the international stage and that augers well for a great contest at what we hope will be another full house at Manuka Oval.

“Canberra has certainly proved its cricket-hosting credentials following the highly successful ICC Cricket World Cup.

“It is for that reason that this coming season Manuka will stage the PM’s XI and a highly-anticipated one-day international between Australia and India as part of a new partnership between Cricket Australia, the ACT Government and Cricket ACT.”

New Zealand haven’t visited Australia for a Test series since the summer of 2011-12 – the last time the two sides met in Test cricket – with that two-match showdown finishing all square at one-all.

This time around, the two sides will face off in a three-match series, with the second Test set to be an historic encounter – the first-ever day-night Test match, to be held at Adelaide Oval from November 27.

Corporate hospitality packages for the Prime Minister’s XI clash are available through Earlybird Marketing and Events, and general tickets for the match will go on sale to the public on August 21 through Ticketek.

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