NZC will partner with global sports technology company BatFast to bring its interactive cricket experience to venues across the country during the Hero Vida India tour of New Zealand, Powered by Ai+ Nova Smartphone.
With the support of NZC's Major Sponsor, ANZ, the ANZ BatZone will give fans the chance to pick up a bat, test their skills and take part in BatFast’s augmented-reality cricket simulator and feel the thrill of facing and striking a real ball.
The free-to-play activation will be launched at a community event in Christchurch on October 21 and feature at matches in Christchurch, Wellington, Auckland, Hamilton and Tauranga between October 22 to December 1.
Fans will be able to face a range of delivery types, with every shot mapped on a digital wagon wheel. Built-in registration and queue management will keep the experience moving, while live on-site and online leaderboards let participants compare scores.
NZC's Chief Commercial and Marketing Officer Glenn Critchley said the interactive cricket experience promised fans an elite game day activation.
"New Zealand Cricket is delighted to be teaming up with BatFast and ANZ to bring the experience to our country for the first time this summer,” he said.
"We're always looking for ways to connect Kiwis with the game, build on our match day experience, and our engagement with the community, and we can think of no one better than BatFast to bring a genuinely world-class experience to cricket fans across Aotearoa."
Jack Roddick, Senior Commercial Manager at BatFast, said the simulator was a major opportunity to connect with fans.
"Sport is at its most powerful when people have the opportunity to participate, not simply watch,” he said.
"This partnership with New Zealand Cricket gives us an incredible platform to turn the excitement around one of the biggest series of the summer into active participation.
"We're particularly excited to be taking interactive cricket experiences across New Zealand and giving fans the chance to get involved throughout the series.”
Tickets to the Hero Vida India tour of New Zealand Powered by Ai+ Nova Smartphone are available at tickets.nzc.nz.