MUMBAI — New Zealand will begin its five-week tour of India with the opening Test of the three-match series at Kanpur from Sept. 22, the Indian cricket board (BCCI) said Tuesday.
Test cricket will return to Kanpur’s Green Park Stadium after a gap of seven years while Kolkata’s Eden Gardens will stage the second Test against the Black Caps from Sept. 30, though the BCCI did not clarify if it would be a day-night test as has been recently reported in local media. The BCCI said last week it would wait for the players’ feedback from September’s Duleep Trophy in which pink balls would be used. The central Indian city of Indore will make its debut as a Test match center in the third and final Test, starting on Oct. 8.
The BCCI issued a revised schedule after originally saying the second Test would be in Indore and the third in Kolkata, but gave no explanation for the change.
New Zealand will also play five One-Day Internationals between Oct. 16 and 29. India is set for a bumper season at home when it will be playing 13 Test matches, eight ODIs and three T20 Internationals. England and Australia will also visit India to play five and four Tests respectively, while Bangladesh will play a one-off Test at Hyderabad.
Tour schedule:
Tests: Sept. 22-26 - First Test, Kanpur; Sept. 30-Oct. 4 - Second Test, Kolkata; Oct. 8-12 - Third Test, Indore.
ODIs: Oct. 16 - First ODI, Dharamsala; Oct. 19 - Second ODI, Delhi; Oct. 23 - Third ODI, Mohali; Oct. 26 - Fourth ODI, Ranchi; Oct. 29 - Fifth ODI, Vizag.
England women thrash Pakistan
Tammy Beaumont became the first England women’s player to score hundreds in successive One-Day Internationals as the host completed a crushing 3-0 series win with a 202-run victory over Pakistan at Taunton Monday.
Beaumont, dropped on two and 64, made 168 not out from 144 balls as England compiled a colossal 366 for four.
Beaumont went to her century Monday off just 111 balls, with nine fours.
Pakistan was never in the hunt when it batted and was dismissed for just 164 with five overs of its innings remaining as England fast bowler Katherine Brunt took five for 30.
