Play in just the second Day/Night Test in New Zealand kicks off on Thursday 16 February 2023.

Day/Night Tests are still a rarity, with the 2023 New Zealand v England game, just the twenty-first since Australia played the Black Caps in Adelaide in 2015.

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While this will be their third visit to the Blake Park ground, you have to go back a long way in time for England's first visit to the Western Bay of Plenty. 

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Sixty-two years ago, England who represented the home of cricket in the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) played a combined Bay of Plenty/Thames Valley side, in a two-day encounter on the 14/15 February 1961. The game was played on the inner ground of the Tauranga Domain, which today, is bounded by a synthetic running track around the rugby field.

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MCC won the toss and batted first on a grass wicket which was far removed from today's well-conditioned batting strips. The tourists wasted no time in reaching 279 for the loss of six wickets, before declaring with one ball remaining in the 69th over.

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England opener Willie (W) Watson was in scintillating form with his willow weapon, setting up his team's solid declaration, with 114 runs. Douglas (DEV) Padgett posted a half-century, while Roger (RM) Prideaux was dismissed with 40 runs alongside his name. Thames Valley bowler Terry (TE) Shaw made some inroads into the English batting attack, with three wickets at a cost of 87 runs.

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Shaw and fellow Thames Valley opener Cliff (CR) Satherley, opened the combined team first turn at bat and spent little time at the crease, with both dismissed for single figures. At stumps on day one Bay of Plenty/Thames Valley had plenty of work in front of them at 94/6.

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Gren (GD) Albaster, improved his overnight total of 25 not out, being bowled for his sides top score of 35, as the Combined combination was removed for 147. The MCC first change bowler, in David (DA) Allen ripped through the opposition batting attack, with his 21/3 overs producing 10 maidens, as he took six wickets for 39 runs. Bob (RW) Barber took four wickets at a cost of 50 runs.

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The Bay of Plenty/Thames Valley follow-on was worse than their first innings being bowled out for just 129, to hand the visitors an innings and 21 run victory. Just two batsmen reached the twenties with the last four wickets falling for just 13 runs. Barber was the main destroyer returning 5/42, to finish the match with nine wickets, while Allen grabbed a further two wickets to end his Western Bay of Plenty appearance with eight wickets.

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England v New Zealand in the Western Bay of Plenty

 

MCC v Bay of Plenty/Thames Valley @ Tauranga Domain - 14/15 February 1961

MCC 279/6 (W Watson 114, DEV Padgett 60, RM Prideaux 40; TE Shaw 3/87)

Bay of Plenty/Thames Valley 147 (GD Alabaster 35, JW Collins 31; DA Allen 6/39, RW Barber 4/50) & 129 (CR Satherley 29; RW Barber 5/42)

Result: MCC won by an innings and 21 runs

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New Zealand Black Caps v England (2nd ODI) - 28 February 2018

New Zealand 223 (MJ Santner 63no, MJ Guptil 50) lost to England 225/4 (BA Stokes 63no, EJG Morgan 62)

Player of the Match: BA Stokes

 

New Zealand Black Caps v England (ICC Test Match) - 21-25 Nov 2019

England 353 (BA Stokes 91, JL Denly 74, RJ Burns 52; TG Southee 4/88, N Wagner 3/90) & 197 (JL Denley 35; N Wagner 5/100)

New Zealand 615/9 (BJ Watling 205, MJ Santner 126, KS Williamson 51; SM Curran 3/119)

Result: New Zealand won by an Innings and 65 runs

Player of the Match: BJ Watling