Black Caps lining up USA hit outs

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The Black Caps are set to play a series of historic internationals in baseball-mad United States.

New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan met with his counterpart Don Lockerbie of the USA Cricket Association this week to discuss the likelihood of a strategic partnership between the two organisations.

Nothing has been finalised at this stage but it's understood one major part of the discussions centred around the Black Caps playing a number of international Twenty20 matches in Florida later this year.

"I had the opportunity to talk through what the strategic partnership might look like with Don Lockerbie – the CEO of USA Cricket – who has been in New Zealand for the under-19 World Cup," Vaughan told Sunday News yesterday.

"The discussions are advancing. They aren't at a stage yet where we are able to finalise anything between the two boards but I think we have a general understanding of what that might look like.

"I'd imagine that within the next month or so we should be able to make some more concrete steps in terms of how this partnership can work."

Vaughan confirmed there was a strong chance the Black Caps would play internationals in the United States, as early as this year.

"It's certainly something that's on the table," he said.

"One of the obvious times to play them would be immediately following the T20 World Cup which is taking place in the Caribbean in April.

"It's only about an hour-and-a-half flight from the Caribbean to Miami.

"The only endorsed international cricketing venue in the United States is based in Lauderhill, Florida.

"That's about a 45-minute drive from Miami airport so logistically playing some Black Caps games after the T20 World Cup might make sense.

"But we haven't yet finalised any details and probably we should first get a firm understanding of what the relationship will be between us and United States Cricket. That's something that we will try to progress over the next few weeks."

Vaughan said he expected the matches would be T20s played against either a full-strength international team or a composite world invitational side.

"In terms of opposition, the United States national team is probably not ready yet to take on a full Black Caps team," he said.

"They are still finding their way when it comes to playing on the international stage. They aren't really ready for something like this."

- © Fairfax NZ News