WELLINGTON, June 21: Auckland’s Eden Park will host Test cricket for the first time since 2006 when the world’s top-ranked team England tour New Zealand early next year, New Zealand Cricket (NZC) said on Thursday.

The park was revamped for the 2011 rugby World Cup and was left off the Test schedule while undergoing the redevelopment, though it did host limited overs internationals.

Since then, Test matches have been hosted at smaller boutique grounds like Napier’s McLean Park, Hamilton’s Seddon Park or University Oval in Dunedin.

Schedule: Feb 4: v New Zealand XI, Twenty20 match (Whangarei). Feb 6: v New Zealand XI, Twenty20 match (Whangarei). Feb 9: First T20 (Auckland). Feb 12: Second T20 (Hamilton). Feb 15: Third T20 (Wellington). Feb 17: First ODI (Hamilton). Feb 20: Second ODI (Napier). Feb 23: Third ODI (Auckland). Feb 27-March 2: v New Zealand XI (Queenstown). March 6-10: First Test (Dunedin). March 14-18: Second Test (Wellington). March 22-26: Third Test (Auckland). —Reuters