The Ford Trophy, the men’s 50-over competition, will open the New Zealand domestic season instead of the Plunket Shield for the first time in six years. NZC released the 2024–25 domestic schedule on Friday. The Ford Trophy season will start with three rounds of matches on October 20. On the first day of play, one of the three games will pit Wellington against the defending champions, Canterbury.
On November 28, Plunket Shield games three in a row will begin, followed by the first Test. The Hallyburton Johnstone Shield, a domestic one-day event for women, is scheduled to commence on November 16 and will be organized in conjunction with Australia’s upcoming tour, consisting of three ODIs. Six rounds of the Johnstone Shield games will be contested before New Zealand plays Australia in the first ODI on December 19.
Plunket Shield Clash in New Zealand
For the first time in six years, the Ford Trophy, the men’s 50-over tournament, will come before the Plunket Shield in New Zealand’s domestic season. On October 20, Canterbury, the defending champions, will play an away game at Wellington to begin the Ford Trophy. On November 11, the Wellington Firebirds and the Auckland Aces will square off in the Basin Reserve in the Plunket Shield title defence. The domestic summer will therefore, as always, come to an end in March and early April with the final four rounds of the Plunket Shield.
For the three competitions this season, a total of 14 locations will host domestic matches. “We consulted with the players, coaches, and turf managers around white-ball cricket starting the men’s season instead of the Plunket Shield,” Richard Brewer, New Zealand head of cricket operations, said. “The change will see slightly different pitch conditions for both competitions, bringing new challenges for both batters and bowlers. The fact the red-ball competition also now aligns with the England Test tour is a bonus.”
Ford Trophy Begins
Men compete in the Ford Trophy for five rounds, then compete in the Plunket Shield for four rounds till December 10. The Ford Trophy in New Zealand then continues on February 6 and runs through to the final in Dunedin on March 2. After that, on March 5, the Plunket Shield again takes over. The Plunket Shield final round, which takes place from March 29 to April 1, will mark the end of the domestic season.
The women’s Johnstone Shield begins on February 8 following a break of six rounds on December 15. March 1st, again in Dunedin, is when the final will take place. The New Zealand Cricket has not yet announced the dates for the T20 competition, Super Smash, which is for both men and women. After December 15, the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield will take a hiatus. It will return on February 8 and have its final in Dunedin on March 1. Both players and spectators anticipate an exciting schedule full of competitive cricket across all formats as the new season draws near.
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