Men's Ford Trophy to Kick Off NZ Domestic Calendar Again
A New Tradition in the Making
Traditionally, New Zealand’s domestic season launched with the Plunket Shield, the red-ball first-class competition. However, in a strategic move designed to better manage player workloads and align with the international calendar, NZC opted to start the 2024–25 season with the Ford Trophy. This decision was carried forward into 2025 as part of a broader effort to enhance the transition between formats for domestic players.
Catherine Campbell, NZC’s Chief Operations Officer, praised the format switch, stating that it had been well-received by players and coaching staff alike, especially as it allowed bowlers to build their workloads gradually through one-day cricket before tackling the demands of four-day first-class fixtures.
Seamless Integration with International Cricket
The shift aligns neatly with New Zealand’s international schedule. As England pursues a white-ball tour of New Zealand, the Ford Trophy runs in parallel, allowing domestic cricketers to stay competitive and potentially slot into international roles with little disruption. Meanwhile, the Plunket Shield kicks off from mid-November, just in time to prepare players for incoming Test series, such as the West Indies visit.
Format & Fixtures: A Season Overview
The 2024–25 edition of the Ford Trophy kicked off on October 20, 2024, and ran through to March 2, 2025, wrapping up in a high-stakes final at University Oval in Dunedin.
Featuring a double round-robin format, each of the six major associations—Auckland Aces, Canterbury, Central Stags, Northern Districts, Otago Volts, and Wellington Firebirds—faced each other twice (30 league matches), followed by playoffs.
Canterbury entered as defending champions and ultimately solidified their dominance by retaining the title for the 2024–25 season.
Looking Ahead
This scheduled realignment underscores NZC’s increasing emphasis on player welfare, format preparedness, and seamless international integration, especially with an international-heavy season on the horizon. Beginning the domestic summer with one-day cricket enhances player readiness for global tours and ensures optimal form across all formats.
With the Ford Trophy once again launching the campaign, fans can expect gripping white-ball action right at the season’s start and a more balanced, performance-driven calendar for players as the season unfolds.
Key Highlights:
• The Ford Trophy now kicks off the NZ domestic season for the second year running, replacing the Plunket Shield.
• The change was positively welcomed, as it helps bowlers and players transition formats more effectively.
• The 2024–25 Ford Trophy ran from October 20 to March 2, culminating in a final at Dunedin’s University Oval.
• Canterbury retained their championship during this edition.