And just like that, we put the tour of the United Arab Emirates in to the rear view mirror - ka kite ano. It was a good time, but we want to see our lads, our Black Caps once again defend their home turf like it's Helm's Deep. With that, I say haere mai to the Sri Lankans!

The squad has been announced which always gives me plenty to talk about, with notable omissions being Corey Anderson with a niggler and Ish Sodhi who was left out for Mark Craig. No dramas there as it's hard to carry two certified spinners in New Zealand conditions and the selectors have opted for the safer option in the offie. 

Interesting inclusions are Hamish Rutherford, Dean Brownlie and Doug Bracewell. Rutherford looks set to open the innings with Brendon McCullum likely to slide back down the order, I wouldn't be surprised to see Dean Brownlie get a chance though to get the left/righ combo at the top with Tom Latham. But I'll settle on Rutherford/Latham.

There is a chance that the Black Caps don't play Craig, with Williamson rolling the arm over a bit thanks to seam friendly conditions. That would be pretty drastic though as that would allow both Bracewell and Neil Wagner to play ... it's more likely that they play Craig with Bracewell and Wagner competing for that 3rd seam spot. I would lean towards Bracewell, especially with the Sri Lankans likely to struggle against the ball nipping around - this won't be a situation where we need Wagner to grind out a day. The form that our bowlers are in means that the Sri Lankans could be up against the wall, many Asian sides would struggle in New Zealand against Southee,Boult and Bracewell.

My team would be - Latham, Rutherford, Williamson, Taylor, Brownlie, McCullum, Watling, Craig, Bracewell, Southee, Boult.

No Jimmy Neesham, but he'd fit right in. I just don't think they really need the extra arm to roll over. I have a sense that Brownlie is in favour and that they may go this way but whether it's Brownlie or Neesham (who'd bat below McCullum) I don't really mind. Neesham needs to perform though.

Craig opens up interesting possibilities with his willow though. He gets runs - in his last 4 Plunket Shield innings' he's scored 9,104, 65 and 21 not to mention his efforts against Pakistan. Now that means that we could see no Brownlie with McCullum at 5, Watling at 6, Craig at 7 and play Neil Wagner as well! Holy shit, that's awesome. It's pretty cray cray but I'd love to see it and all the bases would be covered. 

Latham, Rutherford, Williamson, Taylor, McCullum, Watling, Craig, Bracewell, Southee, Wagner, Boult.

Now that my friends, would be an awesome team. Haere mai Sri Lanka and the cricketing summer.