Outer Oval Back as Home Venue as 50 Competition Fixtures Announced for 2025/26
ACES & HEARTS
Eden Park's Outer Oval, also known as Kennards Hire Community Oval, will see nine matches of 50 over action as the 2025/26 Ford Trophy and Hallyburton Johnstone Shield fixtures are announced.
The Auckland home venue will host the first two Ford Trophy rounds of the season with ACES matches against Northern Districts and Otago in October before returning to host more matches in November and February.
Meanwhile, the HEARTS have two double header weekends scheduled again in December and early February as they look to go one better than their runner-up finish in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield.
The ACES were also beaten finalists in last year's Ford Trophy and the 50 over competitions have proved to be the strongest format for both teams in recent seasons.
Aucklanders will at least be treated to a full season of home matches after several early season Ford Trophy fixtures were moved to Mount Maunganui last season after scheduling conflicts with Travis Scott's Eden Park concert.
2025/26 also marks the second year that the cricket season starts with the Ford Trophy. New Zealand Cricket changed the order of the competitions last season in a bid to offer different pitch conditions across the formats, as well as to better align with the international schedule.
Plunket Shield fixtures for 2025/26 are set to be released on Wednesday, August 13, with the Super Smash schedule to follow on Monday, August 18.
ACES Ford Trophy Fixtures 2025/26
| Sat 25 October | vs. Northern Districts | Kennards Hire Community Oval, Auckland |
| Thurs 30 October | vs. Otago Volts | Kennards Hire Community Oval, Auckland |
| Mon 03 November | vs. Canterbury | Hagley Oval, Christchurch |
| Sat 08 November | vs. Central Stags | Kennards Hire Community Oval, Auckland |
| Weds 12 November | vs. Wellington Firebirds | Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington |
| Weds 04 February | vs. Canterbury | Kennards Hire Community Oval, Auckland |
| Sat 07 February | vs. Central Stags | McLean Park, Napier |
| Tues 10 February | vs. Wellington Firebirds | Kennards Hire Community Oval, Auckland |
| Fri 13 February | vs. Northern Districts | Cobham Oval, Whangarei |
| Tues 17 February | vs. Otago Volts | Sir John Davies Oval, Queenstown |
HEARTS Hallyburton Johnstone Shield Fixtures 2025/26
| Sat 15 November | vs. Otago Sparks | University of Otago Oval, Dunedin |
| Sun 16 November | vs. Otago Sparks | University of Otago Oval, Dunedin |
| Sat 29 November | vs. Canterbury Magicians | Mainpower Oval, Rangiora |
| Sun 30 November | vs. Canterbury Magicians | Mainpower Oval, Rangiora |
| Sat 13 December | vs. Northern Districts | Kennards Hire Community Oval, Auckland |
| Sun 14 December | vs. Northern Districts | Kennards Hire Community Oval, Auckland |
| Sat 07 February | vs. Central Hinds | Kennards Hire Community Oval, Auckland |
| Sun 08 February | vs. Central Hinds | Kennards Hire Community Oval, Auckland |
| Sat 14 February | vs. Wellington Blaze | Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington |
| Sun 15 February | vs. Wellington Blaze | Cello Basin Reserve, Wellington |
See full competition schedules HERE
Article added: Friday 08 August 2025
