Cricket

Cricket

Cricket might be synonymous with summer but New Zealanders don’t lay down their bats or tune out of the action just because it’s winter.

Our national team, known as the ‘Black Caps’ have international engagements in the northern hemisphere and their current UK tour has provided some emotional and nail biting action.

In the 2008 schedule England toured New Zealand in February and it was their turn to host the Black Caps through May and June. The Kiwis’ schedule then takes them to Scotland and on to the ICC Champions Trophy in Pakistan in September. In October Bangladesh is due to host the Black Caps, in November they are to be guests of the Australians and in December the New Zealanders look forward to hosting the West Indies at home.

The Black Caps return to Australia in January 2009 and the highlight of the summer season in New Zealand is in February with the arrival of the Indian cricket team.

With their spirited and more experienced team the Black Caps promise to provide national and international supporters with some thrilling series and one day action this year.

The game goes on
At home the game provides fans with plenty of armchair sport as viewers tune in to the international series. And those keen to play during the Antipodean winter head to indoor facilities for indoor cricket - an increasingly popular New Zealand sport.

First played in New Zealand in the early 1980s indoor cricket is an extreme version of the traditional game and is both fast and furious. Two teams of eight players battle it out in 16 overs on a fully netted, totally enclosed court just 28 x 11 metres in size.

The popularity of indoor cricket keeps enthusiasts at the crease all year round but in summer the traditional game really comes alive. With more than 98,000 registered players, cricket is New Zealand's most popular summer sport and is played by both boys and girls. The New Zealand national women’s cricket team is known as the White Ferns. Their greatest success to date was when they won the World Cup in 2000. The New Zealand women’s cricket team played their first test in 1935.