Australia and New Zealand are reportedly considering a return to international cricket, via the proposed trans-Tasman coronavirus 'bubble'.
According to the Sydney Morning Herald, New Zealand Cricket chief executive David White and Aussie counterpart Kevin Roberts have discussed the prospect of fixtures between the two sides being scheduled, when the travel restrictions are inevitably eased.
Last week, respective prime ministers Jacinda Ardern and Scott Morrison confirmed they'd begun work on a safe travel zone between the neighbours, which are among the first countries to emerge from under the COVID-19 cloud.
That would open the door for international cricket to return, with matches for both the men and women.
In March, the Blackcaps were forced to abandon their Twenty20 and one-day international series against Australia, after the pandemic took hold.
Won by the home team, the first ODI took place at an empty Sydney Cricket Ground, with the remaining fixtures called off soon after.
"We've been having regular conversations with Cricket Australia, looking at all different kinds of opportunities," White has told SMH. "A Tasman bubble would be terrific, if it did eventuate.
"It would present some opportunities going forward, but I think the key is to keep an open mind and be flexible, so if opportunities do arise, we can take them.
"We haven’t talked specifics really. What we have talked about is, conceptually, the possibility of playing each other and that’s where we are at the moment."
The Blackcaps were scheduled to play Pakistan, West Indies and Sri Lanka this summer, but there's still plenty of uncertainty surrounding those series.
The same applies to the T20 World Cup in Australia in October and November, which may also be postponed.
Whatever eventuates on an international level, White stresses NZC wants to keep its domestic schedule unaffected.
"We are slightly fortunate in that we are kind of small, but we will be impacted as well, no doubt about that," he says.
"What we will do, though, is play the full season of domestic first-class cricket - men's and women's. We're committed to that and it's very important that we do that.
"We've also committed the same level of financial support to the community game as we did this year.
"If there is any cost-cutting to go ahead, we’ll probably be doing that at head office."
Newshub has approached White for further comment.
