Great excitement for cricket fans this morning with the release of the 2021-22 Dream11 Super Smash Schedule!

The 17th edition of Dream11 Super Smash will see all 64 matches broadcast live on Spark Sport, with 40 matches broadcast free-to-air by TVNZ 1 and Duke.

This edition of the Dream11 Super Smash has a weekend focus, with matches predominantly played on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays and across the Christmas holiday window at key summer locations.

The Otago Volts & Sparks competition will begin in Dunedin, with a clash against Central Districts at the University of Otago Oval on Sunday the 28th of November.

Otago will have two further home double-headers at the Uni Oval - one against the newly named Northern Brave on Sunday the 12th of December, and the being a Southern derby against Canterbury on Sunday the 23rd of January.

Otago Country cricket fans will be especially excited to see the return of the National Twenty20 competition to Queenstown!

The picturesque John Davies Oval will host back-to-back double headers on Tuesday the 28th & Wednesday the 29th of December.

Both game days are poised to have some of New Zealand's finest players on show, as we host Wellington and then Auckland the following day.

NZC chief executive David White said he was delighted to be in a position to announce the schedule for the 2021-22 summer, given the difficulties of the current Covid-19 environment.

“It’s taken a little longer to confirm the arrangements but it’s certainly been worth the wait – with more men’s and women’s domestic matches to be screened live on Spark Sport and TVNZ than ever before,” he said.

“This competition continues to go from strength to strength and I’m confident this season’s version will continue the trend - drawing record viewership numbers and, Covid-19 permitting, record ground attendances.”

Nine weeks of big-hitting, fearless and fast paced action will sort out the six men’s and six women’s teams as they battle for a spot in the Finals, with the sudden death Elimination (2v3) Finals set for Thursday, 27 January, and the 2022 Dream11 Super Smash Grand Final inked in for Saturday, 29 January.

Head of Spark Sport, Jeff Latch, said he was looking forward to another exciting summer of cricket in Aotearoa.

“As the home of NZC content, Spark Sport is bringing Kiwis live coverage of all 64 matches of the Super Smash season this summer, as well as an exciting international line-up to be announced in the coming weeks.

“What better way for Kiwis to get their summer fix of cricket than to join our team of commentators including Craig McMillan, Scotty Stevenson, Mark Richardson, Frankie McKay, Katey Martin and Rebecca Rolls on Spark Sport.

“We’re very excited to have our Spark Sport commentators calling most matches from our brand-new boundary side commentary pods getting them closer to the action and improving the viewing experience like never before,” Latch said. 

TVNZ’s Director of Content, Cate Slater, echoed Latch’s comments.

“We’re excited to gear up for another season of Dream11 Super Smash on TVNZ, in partnership with NZC and Spark Sport,” she said.

“Cricket is one of Aotearoa’s favourite summer pastimes, and so it’s no surprise that the 2020-21 season was a huge success with free-to-air audiences. We’re looking forward to building on the coverage we delivered to viewers last year, as we support the growth of this fantastic local competition around the country.” 

NZC’s Super Smash League Manager, Nicky Britten, said while there’s potential for the schedule to change given the current Covid-19 environment, she was proud to see the Dream11 Super Smash set and ready for another season. 

“We plan to bring all the action to fans wherever they might be; whatever they might be doing, and on whatever the device they might have access to,” she said.

“In partnership with our broadcast providers, we’ve seen viewership of the Super Smash league rise significantly and we fully expect that trend to continue this summer. 

“We look forward to top domestic cricket returning to several iconic regional hubs, and the provision of selected free-to-air matches reaching bigger and wider audiences.”

This season will see Dream11 Super Smash action hit a variety of venues with matches scheduled in Whangārei, Palmerston North and Queenstown.

The Central Stags and Hinds will host Dream11 Super Smash games together in Palmerston North for the first time since January 2018 (women) and February 2009 (men) - the latter being the only previous occasion in which the Stags have played the shortest format at their Manawatū home ground.

“We’re excited already,” said Central Hinds’ Jess Watkin,  

“Manawatū has been one of our regular homes in the Hallyburton Johnstone Shield and we’re very familiar with Fitzherbert Park, but to be able to play Dream11 Super Smash - with all the excitement and atmosphere of a televised game, and in front of my home crowd, is just brilliant.”

The Otago Sparks will play at Queenstown’s John Davies Oval for the first time in history while the Otago Volts will be playing their first domestic T20 at the scenic Southern Lakes venue since December 2012. 

The Northern Brave will be at home at Whangārei’s Cobham Oval for the first time since November 2015 (men) and December 2016 (women).

“It’s a real pleasure to see the Dream11 Super Smash returning to fans in Whangarei, Palmerston North and Queenstown for the first time in a number of seasons,” said Britten.

“I’d especially like to acknowledge the Whangārei District Council, Palmerston North City Council and Queenstown Lakes District Council, for supporting their Major Associations to host broadcast Dream11 Super Smash matches this season.”

Dream11 Super Smash tickets are on-sale now on Flicket! Buy yours now using the following link 👉 https://otagocricket.flicket.co.nz/.

You may find all other Volts & Sparks playing schedules at https://www.otagocricket.co.nz/ > Fanzone > Domestic Fixtures.

Please find all other information relevant to the 2021-22 Dream11 Super Smash at: https://www.supersmash.co.nz/

Article added: Wednesday 27 October 2021