A busy summer of cricket is about to start on TVNZ, with international action returning next week.
Since TVNZ began showing all home internationals free-to-air, more than half of New Zealand has tuned in across TVNZ 1 and DUKE, along with 720,000 accounts on TVNZ+. Upcoming tours from Australia, Sri Lanka and South Africa are expected to draw big audiences again.
Former BLACKCAPS bowler Neil Wagner will join the commentary line-up, calling the West Indies series against his old teammates. Wagner, who played 64 tests and was part of the inaugural World Test Championship-winning squad in 2021, said:
“I’m really excited for this opportunity to join TVNZ’s commentary team and to continue being involved in the game I love and am so passionate about. Cricket has given me so much, and I’m looking forward to sharing the insights and experiences I’ve gained over the years. I’ll be bringing the same energy and honesty I had on the field when calling the matches.”
He joins regular commentators Katey Martin, Grant Elliott, Mark Richardson, Scotty Stevenson, Shane Bond and Frankie MacKay, alongside other local and international experts.
TVNZ head of sports, events and partnerships Melodie Robinson said:
“We’ve seen over 15 million streams of cricket since 2023 – a phenomenal result that reflects how much Kiwis love connecting with the sport over summer. With six international tours lined up this season and SuperSmash, we’re excited to bring fans even more of the action they love, live and free on TVNZ.”
Fans can also watch Over and Out on TVNZ+, a loose-format podcast-style series mixing cricket with comedy. Guests include Rachin Ravindra, Toni Street, Ben Hurley and Suzie Bates.
The season starts next week when the BLACKCAPS meet Australia at Bay Oval for the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy T20 series, marking 20 years since the sides first met in this format.
- Wednesday 1 October, 7 pm – TVNZ+ and TVNZ 1
- Friday 3 October, 7 pm – TVNZ+ and TVNZ 1
- Saturday 4 October, 7 pm – TVNZ+ and TVNZ 1
Ford sponsors TVNZ’s international cricket coverage, while KFC sponsors the SuperSmash domestic season.
