New Zealand v Australia T20s: All you need to know

The Cricketer provides all the information you need ahead of the five-match 20-over series eight months out from the World Cup...

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What is it?

A five-match T20 series between New Zealand and Australia.

What's the schedule?

First T20: Hagley Oval, Christchurch (Monday, February 22 - 6 am GMT, 7pm local time)

Second T20: University Oval, Dunedin (Thursday, February 25 1 am GMT, 2pm local time)

Third T20: Sky Stadium, Wellington (Wednesday, March 3 - 6 am GMT, 7pm local time)

Fourth T20: Eden Park, Auckland (Friday, March 5 - 6 am GMT, 7pm local time)

Fifth T20: Bay Oval, Tauranga (March 7 - 6 am GMT, 7pm local time)

What are New Zealand's chances?

The Kiwis have been warming up for the series in the Super Smash, the domestic competition during which several of their squad players have made an impression.

We have seen little of established internationals Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Jimmy Neesham and Mitchell Santner but we are assured of seeing more of them during this series.

Consistent with being ranked sixth in the T20 standings by the ICC, recent results have been uneven.

They have only won four of the last 12 T20s at home, a streak which includes series defeats to England and India.

As far as preparations for the tournament in India are concerned, the IPL was a less than helpful experience. Only Williamson and Boult emerged with any credit, with Mitchell McCleneghan and Neesham being released at the end of the tournament.

Colin Munro's success in the Big Bash League - Adam Milne was the only other New Zealand entrant due to the schedule - was a positive but the sheer amount of competition in the top five has seen him overlooked.

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Finn Allen was the leading run-scorer during the Super Smash

Lockie Ferguson remains out as he continues his recovery from a stress fracture in his spine but Ish Sodhi is fit again after a hamstring injury.

The squad sees a maiden call-up for Finn Allen, who finished as the highest scorer in the Super Smash with 512 runs in 11 innings for eventual champions Wellington.

Allen has been enlisted as cover for the injury-stricken Guptill, who is suffering from a hamstring injury. A fitness test will determine whether the 34-year-old opener will have a full role to play during this series.

With at least another nine T20s to come between the end of this series and the World Cup, New Zealand will be treating these matches as a major indicator over where they sit ahead of the tournament.

"Australia will provide a really stern test for our guys who I know will relish the chance to test themselves against the number two T20 side in the world," said selector Gavin Larsen.

"A five-game series also allows us to really nail down our game-plans and the way we want to play as we look ahead to the World Cup later this year."

New Zealand's squad: Kane Williamson (c), Hamish Bennett, Trent Boult, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Martin Guptill, Kyle Jamieson, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips. Mitchell Santner, Tim Seifert (wk), Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Finn Allen

How about Australia?

In keeping with the current climate, Australia's preparations for this series has been less than tranquil.

A weakened group for the five matches was confirmed in January in anticipation of players being in South Africa for the three-Test tour.

Steve Smith, Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and David Warner were all left out as a result.

But following the postponement of the series, Australia have decided against restoring their big-hitters to the group.

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Tanveer Sangha is preparing to make his maiden Australia bow

The squad is largely made up of the white-ball specialists and those who impressed in the Big Bash.

Spinner Tanveer Sangha is the stand-out call-up after he took 21 wickets for Sydney Thunder. Fellow-uncapped players Josh Philippe and Riley Meredith are also braced for their international debuts.

BBL top wicket-taker Jhye Richardson, Ben McDermott and Jason Behrendorff are back in the fold after spells on the sidelines.

But this is a far from a depleted Australia side - led by Justin Langer's assistant Andrew McDonald - with Aaron Finch, Glenn Maxwell and Adam Zampa all making the trip for the ICC's No.2 T20 side.

Finch has already conceded publicly that this squad will be overhauled when it comes to the World Cup in India in October and November.

Nevertheless, there will be an opportunity for several on the fringes to begin their campaign to be included when the tournament is on home soil in 2022.

Philippe will operate at the top of the innings, Matthew Wade has been promised regular opportunities and Sangha will be tested at the highest level.

It will be interesting to see whether Finch can recapture his best form too, after a horrid campaign with Melbourne Renegades.

The McDonald-Finch axis at the helm sees the pair which led Renegades to the 2018-19 BBL crowd, reunited. It might be short-lived, but if it can spark an upturn in the skipper's form the entire tour will have been deemed worth it.

Australia's squad: Aaron Finch (c), Ashton Agar, Jason Behrendorff, Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, Ben McDermott, Riley Meredith, Josh Philippe, Jhye Richardson, Kane Richardson, Daniel Sams, Tanveer Sangha, D'Arcy Short, Marcus Stoinis, Ashton Turner, Andrew Tye, Matthew Wade, Adam Zampa

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Finn Allen was the leading run-scorer during the Super Smash

What's the weather looking like?

The forecast for the first T20 in Christchurch is expected to be overcast but rain is not anticipated.

Sunny and warm weather is meanwhile predicted for the second T20 in Dunedin.

Where can I watch it?

In the UK, BT Sport 1 (Sky channel 413, Virgin 527, BT TV/Talk Talk 408) will be showing all five matches.

Fans in New Zealand can tune in via Spark Sport, while Aussie followers can access footage via Fox Cricket or streaming service Kayo.

Fancode will provide coverage for viewers in India, and ESPN+ have the rights in the United States.

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