The Plunket Shield first-class championship is one of New Zealand's oldest and most demanding sporting competitions. It consists of hard-fought, four-day cricket played at first-class venues right across New Zealand.
This is the red-ball arena, the place where future Test BLACKCAPS are discovered and players push hard for selection, yet entry is always completely free to the public.
The shield itself was donated by Lord William Lee Plunket, New Zealand's twelfth Governor, in 1907 and to this day it is considered the most beautiful sporting prize in New Zealand with incredibly detailed silversmithery.
Canterbury was the first Major Association to hold the shield, but promptly lost it to Auckland in the very first match.
Briefly, in those early days, the Shield was contested on a challenge basis, but today teams compete in a scheduled eight-round competition across the season, the champion being the team with the most points at the end of the final round.
The Plunket Shield was reduced from a 10-round, double round robin from the 2018/19 season onwards, so not every team plays each other home and away.
The nursery of Test cricket, BLACKCAPS play Plunket Shield cricket for their Domestic side when available.
The Auckland Aces headed into 2022/23 as the defending champion, and would play the Central Stags in the final fixture of the 2022/23 Domestic season. The Stags won the match by 188 runs to become the new champion.
You can watch every ball of the Plunket Shield live on our live scoring platforms and on NZC YouTube.
Playing Conditions
Match Official Appointments
Recent Champions
2023/24 Wellington Firebirds
2022/23 Central Stags
2021/22 Auckland Aces
2020/21 Canterbury
2019/20 Wellington Firebirds
2018/19 Central Stags
2017/18 Central Stags
2016/17 Canterbury
2015/16 Auckland Aces
2014/15 Canterbury
2013/14 Canterbury
2012/13 Central Stags
2011/12 Northern Districts
2010/11 Canterbury
2009/10 Northern Districts
