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Australian cricket team in New Zealand in 2020–21

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]

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

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

1st T20I

22 February 2021
19:10 (N)
Scorecard
New Zealand 
184/5 (20 overs)
v
 Australia
131 (17.3 overs)
Devon Conway 99* (59)
Jhye Richardson 2/31 (4 overs)
Mitchell Marsh 45 (33)
Ish Sodhi 4/28 (4 overs)
New Zealand won by 53 runs
Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Umpires: Chris Brown (NZ) and Chris Gaffaney (NZ)
Player of the match: Devon Conway (NZ)
  • Australia won the toss and elected to field.
  • Josh Philippe (Aus) made his T20I debut.

2nd T20I

25 February 2021
14:00
Scorecard
New Zealand 
219/7 (20 overs)
v
 Australia
215/8 (20 overs)
Martin Guptill 97 (50)
Kane Richardson 3/43 (4 overs)
Marcus Stoinis 78 (37)
Mitchell Santner 4/31 (4 overs)
New Zealand won by 4 runs
University of Otago Oval, Dunedin
Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZ) and Shaun Haig (NZ)
Player of the match: Martin Guptill (NZ)

3rd T20I

3 March 2021
19:00 (N)
Scorecard
Australia 
208/4 (20 overs)
v
 New Zealand
144 (17.1 overs)
Glenn Maxwell 70 (31)
Ish Sodhi 2/32 (4 overs)
Martin Guptill 43 (28)
Ashton Agar 6/30 (4 overs)
Australia won by 64 runs
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZ) and Wayne Knights (NZ)
Player of the match: Ashton Agar (Aus)

4th T20I

5 March 2021
19:00 (N)
Scorecard
Australia 
156/6 (20 overs)
v
 New Zealand
106 (18.5 overs)
Aaron Finch 79* (55)
Ish Sodhi 3/32 (4 overs)
Kyle Jamieson 30 (18)
Kane Richardson 3/19 (2.5 overs)
Australia won by 50 runs
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Umpires: Chris Brown (NZ) and Wayne Knights (NZ)
Player of the match: Aaron Finch (Aus)
  • Australia won the toss and elected to bat.

5th T20I

7 March 2021
12:00
Scorecard
Australia 
142/8 (20 overs)
v
 New Zealand
143/3 (15.3 overs)
Matthew Wade 44 (29)
Ish Sodhi 3/24 (4 overs)
Martin Guptill 71 (46)
Riley Meredith 2/39 (4 overs)
New Zealand won by 7 wickets
Wellington Regional Stadium, Wellington
Umpires: Chris Gaffaney (NZ) and Wayne Knights (NZ)
Player of the match: Martin Guptill (NZ)
  • Australia won the toss and elected to bat.

References

  1. ^ "Men's Future Tours Programme" (PDF). International Cricket Council. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  2. ^ "Men's Future Tour Programme 2018-2023 released". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
  3. ^ "Black Caps home season likely to start mid-November as cricket schedule takes shape". Stuff. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
  4. ^ "NZ Cricket confirms West Indies, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Australia will tour here this summer". TVNZ. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  5. ^ "New Zealand to host West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and Bangladesh during home season". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 11 August 2020.
  6. ^ "International Cricket to start with Eden Park Showdown". New Zealand Cricket. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  7. ^ "New Zealand secure extra Australia T20Is". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  8. ^ "Cricket in New Zealand to resume with series against West Indies". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 29 September 2020.
  9. ^ "Tanveer leads fresh-faced trio for NZ T20 tour". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  10. ^ "Cricket moved from Auckland to escape COVID, America's Cup day one at risk". Stuff. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  11. ^ "Covid-19: NZC moves T20Is to Wellington as Auckland goes into lockdown". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 February 2021.
  12. ^ "Crowds allowed for double-header in New Zealand". Times of India. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Wellington to host remainder of Australia men's and England women's matches". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  14. ^ "Final double-header moved to Wellington". New Zealand Cricket. Archived from the original on 28 February 2021. Retrieved 1 March 2021.
  15. ^ "New Zealand survive Marcus Stoinis-Daniel Sams onslaught to earn 2-0 series lead". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  16. ^ "Black Caps vs Australia: All on for Sunday showdown after another one-sided contest". Stuff. Retrieved 5 March 2021.
  17. ^ "Martin Guptill leads New Zealand charge to series victory". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 7 March 2021.
  18. ^ "Guptill under injury cloud as Kiwis name T20 squad". Cricket Australia. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  19. ^ "Matthew Wade dropped from Test squad, Travis Head set to reclaim middle-order spot". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 27 January 2021.
  20. ^ "Black Caps vs Australia: Martin Guptill gets selectors' faith, Finn Allen on standby". Stuff. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  21. ^ "NZ vs Aus: Santner ruled out of 3rd T20I, Milne joins as cover". ANI News. Retrieved 3 March 2021.
  22. ^ "Australia's death bowling and top order in focus on Dunedin's T20I debut". ESPN Cricinfo. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  23. ^ "Black Caps survive Australian run chase as Martin Guptill shines in Dunedin". Stuff. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
  24. ^ "Black Caps vs Australia: Ashton Agar's joy of six as touring side keep series alive". Stuff. Retrieved 3 March 2021.