The holiday season cricket extravaganza kicks off with the much-anticipated Super Smash, New Zealand’s premier T20 competition. Starting on Boxing Day, December 26, at Seddon Park, Hamilton, the tournament will feature a fresh twist as teams step out in retro kits to celebrate 20 years of T20 cricket in New Zealand and worldwide. Indian cricket fans can catch all the action exclusively on FanCode. The season will go on till February 2.
The opening day promises a thrilling doubleheader. At 10:25 AM IST, Northern Brave’s women’s team, led by new captain Jess Watkin, faces off against Auckland Hearts. Later, under the lights at 8:55 AM IST (Dec 27), defending men’s champions Auckland Aces take on hosts Northern Brave.
This season, the retro vibe is set to transport fans back to the early days of T20 and even further into the history of New Zealand cricket. Northern Brave’s teams will don jerseys inspired by the men’s Shell Cup triumphs of the 1990s. Meanwhile, the Auckland Aces will sport retro stripes reminiscent of USA baseball-inspired shirts from the revolutionary Cricket Max era, a short-format innovation by the legendary Martin Crowe that laid the groundwork for T20 cricket.
A Celebration of T20 Cricket’s Evolution
This summer marks the 20th season of T20 cricket in New Zealand, a journey that began with the world’s first-ever T20 International at Eden Park on February 17, 2005, between the BLACKCAPS and Australia. Since then, the format has transformed cricket globally, bringing tactical innovation, fearless hitting, and electrifying entertainment.
The Eden Park inaugural match was as memorable for its light-hearted approach as it was for the action. The BLACKCAPS players embraced the occasion, donning 1980s-style beige uniforms and sporting retro hairstyles, moustaches, and aviator glasses, while Australia’s Ricky Ponting stole the show with a masterful unbeaten 98 off 55 balls.
Exclusive Streaming on FanCode
Indian cricket enthusiasts can witness the thrilling action and nostalgia of the Super Smash only on FanCode. The matches will start in the morning to suit Indian audiences, with majority of games scheduled for 8:55 AM IST, some other matches will be played at 10:25 AM, 6:55 AM IST.
The full schedule for the men’s Super Smash can be accessed here and the women’s Super Smash here.
