The Australia cricket team toured New Zealand in February and March 2021 to play five Twenty20 International (T20I) matches.[1][2][3] In August 2020, New Zealand Cricket confirmed that the tour was going ahead,[4] and were working with their government to comply with biosecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic.[5] On 29 September 2020, New Zealand Cricket confirmed the schedule against Australia.[6] Originally, the tour was scheduled to be a three match series, but was increased to five matches.[7][8] The last three T20I matches took place on the same day as the New Zealand women's fixtures at the same venues.[9]
On 27 February 2021, the third T20I match was moved from Eden Park in Auckland to the Wellington Regional Stadium after Auckland went into lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[10] The remaining matches were scheduled to be played behind closed doors.[11] However, crowds were allowed to attend the last T20I after restrictions were relaxed.[12]
On 1 March 2021, the final T20I was also moved from the Bay Oval in Tauranga to the Wellington Regional Stadium,[13] after logistical complications arose from the movement of the fourth T20I.[14] New Zealand won the first two T20Is,[15] with Australia winning the next two matches to level the series.[16] New Zealand won the fifth and final T20I by seven wickets, winning the series 3–2.[17]
Despite being injured, Martin Guptill was included in New Zealand's squad, with Finn Allen named as his standby.[20] Ahead of the third T20I, Adam Milne was added to New Zealand's squad as cover, after Mitchell Santner was ruled out due to illness.[21]