Dormant skills – for many – will be put to their first tests come Tuesday, November 9 when domestic schedules for the 2010-11 cricket season kick off.
The season will close on April 6, 2011 and New Zealand Cricket says there will be “significantly increased” coverage of the HRV Cup competition on SKY Television.
The HRV Cup will be held across the December – New Year period from Thursday 2 December until the showcase final on Sunday, January 2.
A total of 19 matches from the competition will be featured by Sky Television as well as the final of the Men's One-Day competition.
The team with the most points at the end of two full rounds of HRV Cup will host the final against the team who completes the round-robin stage in second spot.
The winner not only lifts the HRV Cup but also earns the right to represent New Zealand at the prestigious Champions League. Cricket’s international headliners are expected to feature prominently with each team allowed to sign two overseas players.
The Plunket Shield will book-end the season, with the first of three pre-Christmas rounds starting on Tuesday November 9 and the last round scheduled to commence on Sunday, April 3. The Major Association who finishes top of the table after the teams play each other home and away will lift the coveted Plunket Shield.
The Men’s One-Day competition gets underway in the New Year with the first round starting on Sunday, January 9.
The competition will have eight rounds followed by preliminary finals culminating in the final on Sunday, February 13.
New Zealand Cricket Chief Executive Justin Vaughan says: “We are looking forward to what promises to be an entertaining season of men’s domestic cricket.
“A big upside of the schedule is it allows for the Black Caps to represent their Major Association for a number of pre-Christmas rounds and the final of our premiere Twenty20 competition.
“Last year’s HRV Cup generated unprecedented interest and coverage and this is set to continue with increased television coverage and the participation internationals stars.
“Together with the Plunket Shield and Men’s One-Day we have another strong men’s domestic season on offer.”
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