The historic Rose Bowl trophy, contested between the women’s cricket teams of Australia and New Zealand since 1985, has been expanded to include Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), adding a new dimension to one of women’s cricket’s longest-running rivalries.
New Zealand’s three-match T20I tour of Australia, beginning on Sunday at North Sydney Oval, will mark the first T20I series played for the Rose Bowl. The two teams will meet again in March 2027 for a three-match ODI series in Australia, with the trophy also at stake.
Under the revised format, the Rose Bowl will be awarded to the team that records the most victories across both white-ball formats when a series includes ODIs and T20Is. If the overall contest ends in a draw, the current holders will retain the trophy.
Catherine Campbell, New Zealand Cricket’s chief cricket operations officer and a former New Zealand player, welcomed the decision, highlighting the trophy’s significance and the growing importance of T20 cricket.
“The Rose Bowl is a prestigious trophy that holds a lot of meaning to current and past players, and it's a series we've always taken a lot of pride in competing in,” Campbell said. She added that expanding the contest to T20Is would help preserve its relevance and build on the historic rivalry between the two sides.
New Zealand captain Melie Kerr also expressed her enthusiasm for the expanded competition, emphasising the trophy’s importance to the White Ferns.
“We're all aware of what the Rose Bowl represents and the importance it holds in the White Ferns whakapapa [genealogy],” Kerr said. She added that the team would welcome the opportunity to become part of the trophy’s rich history.
Australia have held the Rose Bowl continuously since reclaiming it from New Zealand in 2000. Since their 3-0 series victory that year, Australia have won 18 series, while the 2008-09 contest ended in a 2-2 draw.
Overall, Australia have won 26 of the 31 ODI series contested for the Rose Bowl, while New Zealand have secured three series victories, with three contests ending in draws.
All three T20Is in the upcoming series will be played at North Sydney Oval on October 18, 20 and 22. The expansion is expected to add fresh excitement to the rivalry while giving both teams more opportunities to compete for one of the most significant trophies in women’s cricket.