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]

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

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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

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1st T20I

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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  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.
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