Every cloud has a silver lining and it's not what happens to you, it's all about how you react to what happens. For us kiwis, a lack of Test cricket can easily be flipped into gratitude for what Test cricket we do get, greater appreciation for rockin' the whites and enjoying the grit, graft and class that us kiwis are known for.
Thankfully, the Women's Big Bash League has come swiftly after the super downbuzz World T20 campaign for Aotearoa's White Ferns.
This is what the heavyweight division is all about. This is what we’ve been desperate to see for the last ten years and probably longer. Two absolute champions, one a current belt holder and the other without a belt but with the lineal title, embracing in the ring after twelve rounds of absolute brutality.
Wellington Firebirds had a few niggly turns to take on their way to Ford Trophy glory, in a final vs Otago Volts that was teetering on the edge of falling in favour of either team.
This whole concept of playing regular Aotearoa 'A' cricket may be new for us, let alone two series in the space of a few months. There's one more four-dayer in the series vs India A and then we move into a one-day series, which means we've got another Aotearoa A squad to suss out.
Wellington Firebirds have booked their place in the Ford Trophy final vs Otago Volt, thanks mainly to Ollie Newton's 5 wickets and then Jimmy Neesham's big ol' century.
After fighting hard throughout the first Test, gritting their teeth and staying in the contest to grab a first up win, Aotearoa's Blackcaps did the opposite in the second Test vs Pakistan.
Today we have Auckland Aces taking on Wellington Firebirds in Auckland, with the winner booking a spot in the Ford Trophy final vs Otago Volts.
Only one of the three Ford Trophy games could be played on Saturday, which after Otago Volts defeated Auckland Aces, saw the Volts cap off a fairly dramatic rebuild in sealing a final spot.
How about that Test win by the Blackcaps on foreign soil? Pretty mean aye, led by that lefty spinner on Test debut Ajaz Patel ... wait on, where was Mitchell Santner? T
There is a bit of a weird situation in domestic cricket right now where the tier of seam bowlers below Blackcaps level, have been busy with Aoteartoa A duties and ain't been playing Ford Trophy cricket.
Test wins don't come around that often, given that Test cricket doesn't come around too often for the Blackcaps, let alone Test wins on foreign soil where a touring team needs to have a roster with the various skills to deal with funky conditions.
Coming into the fourth day of the first Test between Pakistan and New Zealand, Pakistan were 37/0 with a further 139 runs to win and all of their wickets in hand, so none of what was to follow would’ve been possible had Kane Williamson not opted for double spin to start the day.
Ford Trophy mayhem has eased up and we were a single run away from having a century in all three games yesterday, with Wellington Firebirds youngster Jakob Bhula letting the gang down.
Ford Trophy cricket has hit nek level hard and fast mode, with all six teams congregating in Canterbury - wonder what they're all going to do on their day off today?
Any time that Blackcaps Test cricket pops out of obscurity, kiwis rejoice and with the Blackcaps hours away from starting the first Test vs Pakistan in United Arab Emirates, we are preparing for our first glimpse of the Blackcaps in whites under new coach Gary Stead.
As Andrew Fletcher hit his third century of the Ford Trophy in Wellington Firebirds' win over Central Districts Stags, another Ford Trophy opener in Cantabrian Jack Boyle also went large and has low key stacked up a pile of runs to match Fletcher's dominance.
Two games into their World T20 campaign and Aotearoa's White Ferns slump continues after they were giving another touch up by Australia.
Perhaps the best change in kiwi cricket recently has been greater focus and intention around Aotearoa 'A' cricket, resulting in an abundance of A cricket for Aotearoa's second tier.
The comeback begins on December 15 in Christchurch against Alexander "The Great" Flores. 28 years old, of Mexican heritage but born in and based out of the United States, with a 17-1-1 record including 15 KOs.