WELLINGTON, New Zealand: Christchurch will host a cricket test for the first time since a devastating 2011 earthquake when New Zealand and Sri Lanka meet at the city's Hagley Oval from December 26 in the first match of a two-test series.
Hagley Oval, which hosts its first test match, is also the venue for the opening match of the 2015 Cricket World Cup. The newly-developed ground is near Christchurch city center which was leveled by a 6.3 magnitude earthquake on Feb. 22, 2011 in which 185 people died.
New Zealand plays Sri Lanka in the second test in Wellington, and in seven one-day internationals as both teams prepare for the World Cup.