New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has officially unveiled the 2024-25 home international summer schedule for the White Ferns, the national women’s cricket team. This forthcoming season will see the White Ferns hosting the national women’s teams of Australia and Sri Lanka for six Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is) and as many One-Day Internationals (ODIs).
The home international calendar will commence with a men’s Test match between New Zealand and England in November. Subsequently, the White Ferns will initiate their season with a three-match ODI series against world champions Australia in December 2024.
New Zealand v Australia (ODI), 2024
| DATE | EVENT | VENUE | TIME (LOCAL) |
| 19-Dec-24 | 1st ODI | Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington |
11:00 AM IST |
| 21-Dec-24 | 2nd ODI | ||
| 23-Dec-24 | 3rd ODI |
The previous bilateral series between New Zealand and Australia dates back to 2021, during Australia’s tour of New Zealand. Australia emerged as the dominant force, sweeping the three-match ODI series and concluding the three-match T20I series with a 1-1 draw. Historically, Australia has maintained supremacy, securing 100 wins compared to New Zealand’s 31 in their 139 ODI encounters, with two matches yielding no results, three abandoned, and three canceled.
Then, in March 2025, Sri Lanka will tour New Zealand for a six-match white-ball series, including three T20Is and three ODIs. Shortly thereafter, in the same month, Cricket Australia will fly out their T20I team for a three-match series, marking the conclusion of the White Ferns’ home international season.
New Zealand v Sri Lanka (ODI & T20I), 2025
| DATE | EVENT | VENUE | TIME (LOCAL) |
| 4-Mar-24 | 1st ODI | McLean Park, Napier | 2:00 PM |
| 7-Mar-24 | 2nd ODI | Saxton Oval, Nelson | 11:00 AM |
| 9-Mar-24 | 3rd ODI | Saxton Oval, Nelson | 11:00 AM |
| 14-Mar-24 | 1st T20I | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 7:15 PM |
| 16-Mar-24 | 2nd T20I | Hagley Oval, Christchurch | 10:15 AM |
| 18-Mar-24 | 3rd T20I | University of Otago Oval, Dunedin | 10:15 AM |
| DATE | EVENT | VENUE | TIME (LOCAL) |
| 21-Mar-24 | 1st T20I | Eden Park, Auckland | 2:45 PM |
| 23-Mar-24 | 2nd T20I | Bay Oval, Tauranga | |
| 26-Mar-24 | 3rd T20I | Sky Stadium, Wellington |
The Trans-Tasman rivalry in T20Is remains fierce, as evidenced by their first-ever game resulting in a tie. New Zealand has 21 wins, while Australia leads slightly with 25 victories; one game each has been abandoned and yielded no result from 49 face-offs.
Leading up to the 2024-25 summer, the White Ferns have a demanding winter schedule. They will compete in a three-match T20I series in Australia in September, followed by the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in September and October. Post World Cup, the White Ferns are scheduled for a multi-format tour of India.
Currently, the White Ferns are touring England for an eight-match white-ball series. They have faced significant challenges, suffering a whitewash in the three-match ODI series and trailing 4-0 in the five-match T20I series. This is part of a broader trend, with the team having won just 2 of their last 10 T20Is and 1 of their previous 5 ODIs.
From a reset in the coaching setup to managing aging veterans and integrating rookie talents, the White Ferns have much to address to put up impressive showings in the 2024-25 home season. However, it remains to be seen if they can turn things around and deliver a more competitive performance at the World Cup.
