A delighted Bay Oval Trust general manger Kelvin Jones says he's looking forward to two sold-out cricket matches when the Black Caps return to Mount Maunganui in January.

The New Zealand national side will bring international cricket back to the Bay Oval when they face Sri Lanka in a 50-overs fixture on January 5, followed by a T20 clash two days later.

Bay Oval Trust general manger Kelvin Jones. Photo: File.

'I think credit should go to the region as well as the ground,” says Kelvin.

'If you look at the schedule, I think there is only one game in Dunedin and one game in Napier this year, which are traditional cricket-playing areas.

'But Tauranga can take some credit for the fact that we have got two.”

Kelvin believes the double-header is also because Tauranga is a popular holiday destination.

The Bay Oval Trust and Tauranga City Council have been working with New Zealand cricket over the past three months to try and seal the fixtures, he adds.

'But it's a long winded process – even longer than usual this year,” explains Kelvin

'We are delighted. It's a next step on from the internationals last year in October (against South Africa).

'To get big games in January, which is the peak holiday season, will be bumper and I'm sure they will be sold out.”

Tickets are expected to go on sale in November, and Kelvin thinks the T20 match on January 7 will be a late afternoon game.

'We just need some lights now,” he adds.

During their Long Term Plan process, Tauranga City Council decided not to support Bay Oval Trust's application for the $2 million required to install floodlights at the Blake Park venue.

'But it's still our number one focus,” insists Kelvin.

'We have venues like Dunedin, where their council has contributed to lighting the ground, so if we want this sort of stuff to continue then we need to do it ourselves and make sure we are ahead of the pack.

'On the bright side, more international matches are becoming available. There's 30 or so days of cricket this coming summer, but the following summer of 2016/2017, it jumps to more than 50 international matches.

'So this is all about the longer term and making sure we get the lion's share of those fixtures.”

Mayor Stuart Crosby says events such as January's games bring the region into focus and play a key role in showcasing Tauranga locally, nationally and internationally.

'Events create a raft of opportunities for Tauranga,” says Stuart. 'They attract visitors, boost the local economy and create a vibrant and exciting city for everyone to enjoy.

'We live in one of New Zealand's most popular holiday destinations, so what better place for cricket fans to enjoy our national summer game and get into the spirit of the season?

'These games are also a great opportunity to highlight the great spaces and places we have here in Tauranga to both locals and visitors alike.”