Round up: An exceptional record in One Day Internationals, sustained dominance in Test cricket, and a steady presence in T20s characterized New Zealand Cricket in 2025. With a retiring legend signaling transition. Governance encountered pressure from a high-profile T20 franchise leading to a profile administrative resignation. Even so, New Zealand remained among the more consistent international teams, combining reliable on-field performances with comparatively stable administrative structures, maintaining its standing in world cricket without dramatic shifts in direction.
Unbeaten in Test Cricket
The New Zealand men’s team played five Tests during the year, winning four. The only draw came at Christchurch, where West Indies survived by batting out 68 overs. In contrast, the New Zealand women’s team has not played a Test for 22 years, and last hosted one in March 1995 against Australia, reflecting how cricket has increasingly shifted from sport to business since 1992 Men’s World Cup in Australia.
Excellent in One day Internationals
While New Zealand performed well in Test cricket, the level of opposition did not always present sustained or stern challenges, with both Zimbabwe and West Indies undergoing their own periods of transition and internal difficulty. The results, therefore, need to be viewed in context rather than isolation. In One Day Internationals, however, New Zealand’s men were markedly impressive. They won 17 of their 20 matches, claimed the tri-series title in Pakistan and advanced to the final of the Champions Trophy, reinforcing their reputation as one of the most consistent sides in the 50-over format.
The White Ferns experienced a far less rewarding year
Beyond a 2–0 home series victory against Sri Lanka, their campaign was disappointing, particularly at the World Cup in India, where four losses saw them finish sixth in an eight-team competition.
T20 Cricket
The New Zealand men’s team had a solid year, winning 12 of the 18 completed matches, with three games washed out. However, defeats against Australia and England were less than ideal. They did manage positives, winning the Tri-series in Zimbabwe and comfortably overcoming Pakistan and West Indies.
The women’s team, however, had little to celebrate following their T20 World Cup triumph the previous year. They failed to secure a series win against Sri Lanka and lost all their home matches against Australia, resulting in a largely forgettable season.
Player in Focus
Matt Henry was the standout performer, claiming 65 wickets in 27 matches across formats. He led the bowling attack with consistency and control, establishing himself as one of the most effective bowlers in international cricket. However, the year also marked the rise of Jacob Duffy, who transitioned from a reliable domestic performer into a frontline international pacer.
Duffy took 25 wickets in just four Tests, the highest tally for New Zealand in the format during the year, and also topped the T20 charts with 35 wickets in 21 matches. With the bat, Rachin Ravindra emerged as the most consistent performer.
While he did not finish as the number one batter in any single format, he ranked among the top three run-scorers in all formats. Amassing 1,382 runs at an average of 49.35 in 32 matches, Ravindra was New Zealand’s most dependable batsman.
Legend Retires
Sophie Devine, one of the finest women cricketers produced by New Zealand, retired from One Day International cricket, bringing an end to a remarkable chapter in the format. She finished as New Zealand’s third-highest run-scorer in ODIs, surpassing even Debbie Hockley, widely regarded as the country’s greatest women’s cricketer—an indicator of Devine’s longevity, consistency, and impact.
Renowned for her explosive batting, useful seam bowling, and leadership, Devine shaped an era of White Ferns cricket. She will, however, continue playing T20 internationals, a decision that offers relief and experience to New Zealand cricket as it navigates a phase of transition and rebuilding.
What is in store in 2026
The year 2026 promises to be a defining one for New Zealand cricket, with major assignments lined up for both the men’s and women’s teams. Both sides will be preparing for global T20 tournaments, with the men set to compete in India–Sri Lanka and the women in the United Kingdom. Beyond T20 cricket, the men face a demanding calendar, featuring marquee Test series against Australia, India, and England.
These contests will be critical in shaping the Black Caps’ path to the 2027 World Test Championship final. Amid this transition, the career of Kane Williamson will remain a central talking point. With the celebrated trio of senior fast bowlers having wound up their careers, Williamson stands as the last pillar of a golden generation.
Every New Zealander will hope to see him reach the landmark of 10,000 Test runs—a feat that would make him the first from the country to do so, and perhaps the last, underscoring his enduring greatness and legacy.
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