White Ferns excited by Australia challenge

New Zealand women's coach Gary Stead has revealed his excitement at the upcoming season for his side.

The White Ferns will host Australia in the annual Rose Bowl series in a split tour comprising of two matches in late December with six further matches played in February.

The first of five Twenty20 Rose Bowl matches will be played on December 28 before the men's side take on Pakistan at Seddon Park and will be televised live on SKY TV.

The teams then move to Saxton Field in Nelson on Thursday 30 December before the final three Twenty20 matches at Queens Park in Invercargill starting on Friday 18 February. Three One-Day Internationals at Lincoln complete the series with the winner decided over both formats.

"We came close to winning the Rose Bowl last summer and are desperate to turn the tables this year," said Stead.

"The Twenty20 format suits our team and we have a good record against the Australians so the make up of the tour gives us a really good chance.

"The 2010-11 summer promises to be an exciting one for women's cricket. The Rose Bowl, Action Cricket Cup and extended Action Cricket Twenty20 will provide some superb entertainment."

Stead was speaking on the day the women's fixtures for the 2010-11 season were announced by New Zealand cricket.

In an endorsement for the popularity of Twenty20 cricket the women's domestic competitions have been revamped to include two full rounds of the shortest version with one full round of Action Cricket Cup One-Day competition.

"It's a very exciting phase with Twenty20 playing a major part in the growth of women's cricket," said Justin Vaughan, New Zealand Cricket CEO.

"We believe the shortened format will pave the way for greater involvement of women in cricket from school and club level through to Major Association and international arenas."