Australia's Tour of New Zealand Announced

Auckland: New Zealand to host the Australians for two Tests and a Chappell-Hadlee ODI series in February 2016.

Australia will have the chance to win back the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy next February as part of a Test and one-day international tour across the Tasman.

New Zealand Cricket and Cricket Australia announced today that the Aussies will play a three-match ODI series against the Black Caps early next year ahead of two Tests.

The ODIs will be played in Auckland (February 3), Wellington (February 6) and Hamilton (February 8), and Tests will be played in Wellington (February 12-16) and Christchurch (February 20-24).

The tour will come hot on the heels of the three-match Commonwealth Bank Test series against the Black Caps in November.

New Zealand's improved performances over the last two years - which have seen them rise in the Test and ODI rankings and play off against Australia in the World Cup final in March – should ensure a summer of pulsating trans-Tasman rivalry.

New Zealand Test captain Brendon McCullum said he was looking forward to meeting Australia at home and away in the same summer.

"It's going to be a great series. The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy is really special to us," McCullum said.

CA and NZC have made a commitment to stage six Chappell-Hadlee Trophy ODI series over the next four years.

Each series will be three matches – a total of 18 games in the time frame – with New Zealand to host four series, starting in early 2016, and Australia two others.

The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy was contested for the first time in more than four years when New Zealand defeated Australia in their World Cup pool match in Auckland.

Prior to that, the trophy had been in Cricket Australia's Jolimont office since Australia beat the Black Caps in Nagpur at the 2011 World Cup.

The Chappell-Hadlee Trophy was introduced in 2004 and contested at least once a year until the Nagpur clash in 2011.

Despite losing the World Cup title to Australia, the Black Caps held on to the trophy, which was not in contention for the March 29 final at the MCG.

The last time Australia toured New Zealand in 2009-10 they drew the Twenty20 series 1-1, took out the ODI series 3-2, and completed two comprehensive Test victories.

Qantas Tour of New Zealand
Feb 3: First ANZ ODI v New Zealand, Auckland
Feb 6: Second ANZ ODI v New Zealand, Wellington Regional Stadium
Feb 8: Third ANZ ODI v New Zealand, Hamilton
Feb 12-16: First ANZ Test v New Zealand, Basin Reserve, Wellington
Feb 20-24: Second ANZ Test v New Zealand, Christchurch

Scores	Upcoming	Results
Zimbabwe vs Afghanistan - 3rd ODI 3rd ODI - South Africa v Pakistan - December 22, 12:00 GMT 4th Test - Australia v India - December 26-30, 23:30 GMT 3rd T20I - West Indies v Bangladesh at St Vincent Bangladesh won by 80 runs 2nd ODI - South Africa v Pakistan at Cape Town Pakistan won by 81 runs

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