The Australia cricket team toured New Zealand in February and March 2021 to play five Twenty20 International (T20I) matches.[1][2][3] In August 2020, New Zealand Cricket confirmed that the tour was going ahead,[4] and were working with their government to comply with biosecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] On 29 September 2020, New Zealand Cricket confirmed the schedule against Australia.[6] Originally, the tour was scheduled to be a three match series, but was increased to five matches.[7][8] The last three T20I matches took place on the same day as the New Zealand women's fixtures at the same venues.[9]
| Australian cricket team in New Zealand in 2020–21 | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 |
 | ||
| New Zealand | Australia | ||
| Dates | 22 February – 7 March 2021 | ||
| Captains | Kane Williamson | Aaron Finch | |
| Twenty20 International series | |||
| Results | New Zealand won the 5-match series 3–2 | ||
| Most runs | Martin Guptill (218) | Aaron Finch (197) | |
| Most wickets | Ish Sodhi (13) | Ashton Agar (8) | |
| Player of the series | Ish Sodhi (NZ) | ||
On 27 February 2021, the third T20I match was moved from Eden Park in Auckland to the Wellington Regional Stadium after Auckland went into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] The remaining matches were scheduled to be played behind closed doors.[11] However, crowds were allowed to attend the last T20I after restrictions were relaxed.[12]
On 1 March 2021, the final T20I was also moved from the Bay Oval in Tauranga to the Wellington Regional Stadium,[13] after logistical complications arose from the movement of the fourth T20I.[14] New Zealand won the first two T20Is,[15] with Australia winning the next two matches to level the series.[16] New Zealand won the fifth and final T20I by seven wickets, winning the series 3–2.[17]
Squads
edit| T20Is | |
|---|---|
 New Zealand[18]
|
 Australia[19]
|
Despite being injured, Martin Guptill was included in New Zealand's squad, with Finn Allen named as his standby.[20] Ahead of the third T20I, Adam Milne was added to New Zealand's squad as cover, after Mitchell Santner was ruled out due to illness.[21]
T20I series
edit1st T20I
edit2nd T20I
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|
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- Australia won the toss and elected to field.
- This was the first T20I match to be played at this venue.[22]
- Mitchell Santner (NZ) played in his 50th T20I.[23]
3rd T20I
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|
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- New Zealand won the toss and elected to field.
- Riley Meredith (Aus) made his T20I debut.
- Ashton Agar took the best figures for a bowler for Australia, and the fifth-best figures overall in T20Is.[24]
4th T20I
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- Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
5th T20I
editv
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- Australia won the toss and elected to bat.
References
edit- ^ "Men's Future Tours Programme" (PDF). International Cricket Council. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ "Men's Future Tour Programme 2018-2023 released". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
- ^ "Black Caps home season likely to start mid-November as cricket schedule takes shape". Stuff. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
- ^ "NZ Cricket confirms West Indies, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Australia will tour here this summer". TVNZ. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ "New Zealand to host West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and Bangladesh during home season". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
- ^ "International Cricket to start with Eden Park Showdown". New Zealand Cricket. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
- ^ "New Zealand secure extra Australia T20Is". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
- ^ "Cricket in New Zealand to resume with series against West Indies". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
- ^ "Tanveer leads fresh-faced trio for NZ T20 tour". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- ^ "Cricket moved from Auckland to escape COVID, America's Cup day one at risk". Stuff. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "Covid-19: NZC moves T20Is to Wellington as Auckland goes into lockdown". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
- ^ "Crowds allowed for double-header in New Zealand". Times of India. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "Wellington to host remainder of Australia men's and England women's matches". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ "Final double-header moved to Wellington". New Zealand Cricket. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
- ^ "New Zealand survive Marcus Stoinis-Daniel Sams onslaught to earn 2-0 series lead". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "Black Caps vs Australia: All on for Sunday showdown after another one-sided contest". Stuff. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
- ^ "Martin Guptill leads New Zealand charge to series victory". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
- ^ "Guptill under injury cloud as Kiwis name T20 squad". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "Matthew Wade dropped from Test squad, Travis Head set to reclaim middle-order spot". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
- ^ "Black Caps vs Australia: Martin Guptill gets selectors' faith, Finn Allen on standby". Stuff. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
- ^ "NZ vs Aus: Santner ruled out of 3rd T20I, Milne joins as cover". ANI News. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
- ^ "Australia's death bowling and top order in focus on Dunedin's T20I debut". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ "Black Caps survive Australian run chase as Martin Guptill shines in Dunedin". Stuff. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ "Black Caps vs Australia: Ashton Agar's joy of six as touring side keep series alive". Stuff. Retrieved 3 March 2021.