Western Australian cricket fans are set to witness another classic Test Match between two traditional rivals at Perth Stadium next summer.
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For just the second time at Perth Stadium, Australia and New Zealand will do battle in the longest format of the game as another chapter of the Trans-Tasman rivalry gets written.
The NRMA Insurance West Test, scheduled for Wednesday 9 December to Sunday 13 December, is set to open the series between two of the game’s best exponents of the longest format, with matches to follow in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney.
Australia and New Zealand sit first and fifth respectively on the ICC Men’s Test Team Rankings and occupy the top two spots in the ICC World Test Championship standings – which, if sustained, would see them qualify for that Final.
Western Australian quick Jhye Richardson, who featured in last summer’s NRMA Insurance Ashes against England, said the series promised to get off to an exciting start in his home state.
“I haven’t played a Test Match against New Zealand yet,” Richardson told reporters on Monday.
“I’ve played a couple of T20 matches against them and it’s a fiery series.
“We saw last year here a lot of short-ball barraging.
“It’ll be a great battle.”
The lone Test Match between the two sides at Perth Stadium – a searingly hot day/night encounter in 2019 – saw Australia prove too strong by 296 runs.
New Zealand’s prior visit to Perth for a Test Match was in 2015 at the WACA Ground, which saw superstar batter Kane Williamson make a stellar 166 in the first innings.
Williamson will be 36 by the time the West Test gets underway and looms as his farewell tour of Australia.
If afforded the chance to feature in his hometown Test, Richardson said he would be excited to bowl at Williamson.
“He’s been one of the best players in the World for such a long period of time,” he said.
“He’s another player that is super professional in everything that he does.
“He’s a class act and still an amazing player.
“If I do get an opportunity, I’ll be aiming for that (wicket) for sure.”
The four Test Matches against New Zealand form a key part of a busy 11-month period for Australia, which features tours to South Africa, India and England, as well as a home series against Bangladesh.
As well as the West Test, Perth Stadium will play host to the opening One-Day International of the season against England on Friday 13 November.
The two fixtures in Perth form part of an international season like no other, which builds to a historic climax with the 150th Anniversary Test Match at the MCG celebrating cricket’s most storied rivalry, the enduring popularity of Test Cricket and the superstars from all nations who have elevated the game.