New Zealand, a scenic island country in the Pacific Ocean, is one of 12 cricket nations that have Test status. Cricket is a popular summer sport in the country, as it is in their trans-Tasman neighbouring nation, Australia.
And New Zealand’s summer season is completely packed with international matches as well as several domestic tournaments. The New Zealand Cricket, the country’s governing body, organises some prominent domestic tournaments in men’s and women’s cricket.
In this article, we’ll look at the domestic cricket tournaments organised in New Zealand.
Plunket Shield
Every Test-playing nation has a first-class cricket competition in place. And New Zealand also has one.
Plunket Shield is among the oldest first-class cricket competitions in the world. It is over a 117-year-old tournament, started back in 1906-07.
The New Zealand’s premier first-class tournament derives its name from Lord William Shield. He donated the shield for the tournament in 1906, when he was serving as Governor-General of New Zealand.
A total of six domestic teams participate in the Plunket Shield, taking on each other. The team with the most points lifts the trophy at the end of the tournament.
Auckland, Canterbury, Central Districts, Northern Districts, Otago, and Wellington feature in the Plunket Shield every season. Auckland is the most successful team, having won the shield 24 times.
The Ford Trophy
This is the domestic men’s one-day competition in New Zealand. The Ford Motor Company sponsors the tournament, hence the name.
The List A tournament has been played since its inception in 1971/72. The Ford Trophy takes place between the gap of the Plunket Shield.
The same men’s domestic teams participate in the tournament. Canterbury is the most successful in the Ford Trophy, with 16 title victories.
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Hallyburton Johnstone Shield
This is the women’s equivalent of the Ford Trophy. The trophy derives its name from the late New Zealand politician, Hallyburton Johnstone Shield.
When the tournament started in 1935/36, it was a first-class tournament. But in the early 1990s, the tournament adopted the 50-over format, which is now in use.
The participating teams are the same as in the men’s competition, though they are known as follows: Auckland Hearts, Canterbury Magicians, Central Hinds, Northern Districts (Northern Brave for T20s), Otago Sparks, and Wellington Blaze.
Canterbury is also the most successful team in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield. They have won the competition 39 times.
Men’s and Women’s Super Smash
T20 cricket is the driving force in current times, and New Zealand is not behind in this aspect. The governing body organises the Super Smash tournament in men’s and women’s cricket.
The Men’s Super Smash began in 2005, while the Women’s Super Smash started in 2007/08. Both tournaments feature the same teams, which play in a double round-robin format before the knockouts.
The men’s teams are known as Auckland Aces, Canterbury Kings, Central Stags, Northern Brave, Otago Volts, and Wellington Firebirds.
Auckland Aces are the most successful team in the men’s version, with five titles, while Wellington Blaze dominate in the women’s version, with eight titles.
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