New Zealand and Australia, the CricInfo Women's World Cup finalists in 2000, will play the opening game of next summer's Quadrangular Tournament at New Zealand Cricket's High Performance Centre at Lincoln University near Christchurch.

The draw for the series which also involves India and England was made today.

The tournament, which is aimed to be a meaningful event between World Cups, will start on January 26 with a final to be played on February 9.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) operations manager John Reid said: "It's important for the growth and development of women's cricket internationally that we provide opportunities for teams to compete in tournaments like this one.

"The experience of playing in a demanding and competitive tournament develops the skill levels of the participants and provides a gauge of how each team is progressing in an international sense," said Reid.

The annual trans-Tasman Rosebowl competition will be incorporated into the Quadrangular Tournament.

"There will be an added dimension to the matches in the Quadrangular Tournament between Australia and New Zealand because, not only will they be playing to win the tournament, they will also be playing for the annual Rosebowl which represents trans-Tasman superiority," he said.

After the tournament, England will tour Australia where the teams will compete in a Test series.

The Australian Cricket Board, which under normal circumstances would have hosted both the TelstraClear White Ferns for the Rosebowl and the one-day element of the England tour, has made a financial contribution to the Quadrangular Tournament in lieu of this commitment.

"New Zealand Cricket is grateful for the foresight that the ACB has shown by agreeing to assist with some of the costs associated with this NZC initiative," said Reid.

"The international women's game needs administrations with the vision and commitment to grow interest in it, and NZC appreciates the co-operation of the ACB and their practical support which clearly shows they share this vision with us."

The tournament draw is:

January 26: New Zealand v Australia at Bert Sutcliffe Oval; Jan 27: England v India at Bert Sutcliffe Oval; Jan 28: New Zealand v India at Bert Sutcliffe Oval; Jan 29: England v Australia at Lincoln Green; Jan 30: New Zealand v England at Lincoln Green; February 1: Australia v India at Lincoln Green; Feb 2: New Zealand v India at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, Australia v England at Lincoln Green; Feb 3: New Zealand v England at Lincoln No 3; Feb 4: Australia v India at Lincoln No 3; Feb 6: New Zealand v Australia at Bert Sutcliffe Oval, England v India at Lincoln No 3; Feb 7: 3rd v 4th at Bert Sutcliffe Oval; Feb 8: Final at Bert Sutcliffe Oval; Feb 9: Reserve Day.

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