Worcestershire's 2016 overseas signings Matt Henry and Mitchell Santner can look forward to a busy and exciting period of international cricket with New Zealand during the next few months.
Paceman Henry will be the County's overseas player for the first half of the season from early April to the end of June.
All-rounder Santner will be linking up at New Road in mid May for the NatWest T20 Blast campaign.
But before then the duo will be facing some challenging series with the Black Caps ahead of the ICC World T20 tournament in India.
New Zealand, who have just completed homeTest, ODI and T20I series with Sri Lanka, will quickly return to action with three T20Is against visiting Pakistan today, January 17 and 20.
They are followed by three ODIs against Pakistan on January 25, 28 and 31.
Only three days later, the Kiwis will play host to Australia in the first of three ODIs on February 3, 6 and 8.
They are a forerunner to two Tests against their nearest rivals on February 12-16 and 20-24.
Just 13 days later the ICC World T20 will get underway on March 8 and will run through until April 3.
New Zealand have been drawn with India, Pakistan, Australia and the Group A winner from the qualifying groups with the top two going through to the knockout stages.
ITINERARY
January 15 – Pakistan (Auckland) T20I
January 17 – Pakistan (Hamilton) T20I
January 22 – Pakistan (Wellington) T20I
January 25 – Pakistan (Wellington) ODI
January 28 – Pakistan (Napier) ODI
January 31 – Pakistan (Auckland) ODI
February 3 – Australia (Auckland) ODI
February 6 – Australia (Wellington) ODI
February 8 – Australia (Hamilton) ODI
February 12-16 – Australia (Wellington) – First Test
February 20-24 – Australia (Christchurch) – Second Test
March 8 to April 3 – ICC World T20 – India
*Santner and Henry were part of the New Zealand side which lost the opening T20I against Pakistan in Auckland today.
Santner returned the excellent figures of 2-14 from four overs and Henry 1-31 from his four overs as Pakistan totalled 171-8.
The home side were then dismissed for 155 despite 56 off 27 balls from Worcestershire 2015 T20 Blast overseas player Colin Munro.
