Wellington's Basin Reserve ground set to host first Boxing Day Test in 11 years

The famous Basin Reserve cricket ground in the New Zealand city of Wellington is reportedly set to host its first Boxing Day Test in 11 years.

New Zealand Cricket (NZC), which has most of this season's international schedule pencilled in, is understood to have earmarked the first of two Tests against Sri Lanka for the country's premier venue on December 26.

According to Stuff.co.nz, the Boxing Day Test began with a New Zealand victory over India in 1998 followed by Mathew Sinclair's debut double-century in a victory over West Indies a year later, although it petered out after just five editions, the most recent a seven-wicket defeat to Pakistan in 2003.

The report mentioned that NZC preferred a limited overs match in Auckland on Boxing Day in recent years, but the tight scheduling with the focus on 50-over cricket leading up to the World Cup forced its hand.

New Zealand will play their fifth and final ODI against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi on December 19 then fly home for the Sri Lanka tour which includes two Tests and seven ODIs and the report added that Pakistan is also expected to tour for three ODIs in late January, just before the World Cup.