The greatest change in Aotearoa blokes cricket over the past decade has been blossoming depth under a collection of the nation's greatest cricketers leading the Blackcaps. Since sealing World Test Chmapionship glory, BJ Watling dipped back into his Waikato middle earth and was recently joined by Luteru Taylor. Hopefully Kane Williamson can still surf with his niggly elbow injury as he is again absent for South Africa's tour of Aotearoa. Williamson can definitely steam up Mount Maunganui with Trent Boult when Boulty isn't on baby duties.

They are four of Aotearoa's greatest cricketers ever, some would argue the best in their little pockets of cricket. We have already seen the wider Blackcaps group expand in recent years to the point where last winter's tour of England saw six players swapped out to defeat England ahead of the WTC final. In white ball cricket there was one T20I squad that hit up Bangladesh and a different T20I squad made the T20 World Cup final.

In selecting Cameron Fletcher and Blair Tickner, we are seeing the pool of Blackcaps players increase. Colin de Grandhomme and Hamish Rutherford left the pool for some kai, now they are back in the Blackcaps pool. All while the emergence of Kyle Jamieson, Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell and Will Young helps absorb the losses of Boult, Williamson and Taylor.

These early-Test career stats are fairly healthy given the vibe for this Test series is curiosity around Aotearoa's Test depth...

Tom Latham: 42.72avg.

Will Young: 38.90avg.

Devon Conway: 69.22avg.

Daryl Mitchell: 43.28avg.

Henry Nicholls: 39.88avg.

Some, if not all kiwis would have Latham as the best opener in the world. Young scored 89 in India, then three consecutive 50+ scores vs Bangladesh and then a Ford Trophy hundy. Conway went double-banger at Lord's on Test debut, then centuries in either Test vs Bangladesh. Mitchell hit a 60 in India, after doing a nice job up top in the T20 World Cup. Nicholls hasn't played a game since the Bangladesh Test series, while two Plunket Shield games and two Super Smash games are his only domestic cricket adventures of the summer.

Don't buzz though because Nicholls did do his job for Harbour Peninsula against Kaiapoi in a Canterbury Country fixture back in October. Nicholls took 3w @ 1.40rpo in his 5 overs and he then toiled hard for 75 (retired hurt) @ 202.7sr.

Through his lack of cricket, Nicholls still managed a 75 against Bangladesh. This was followed by two ducks and while it would take a severe dip in run-scoring mahi for me to ponder Nicholls' future, this is the weirdest pocket of Blackcaps batting ahead of the first Test. Latham's a monster and the other three have another opportunity to stack runs on solid foundations. I'm not worried about Nicholls in any way, more curious as to how he performs with such sporadic appearances this summer.

When Aotearoa's depth is being tested or there is a flex of depth, lads like Nicholls are crucial. I've enjoyed how Nicholls tends to have a fresh score waiting around the corner and his experience in Test cricket can never be overlooked. Nicholls might slide up to #4 or he could stay at #5, with either move linked to Mitchell's role. Either option is fine.

Fun fact: Nicholls has scored a Test century in every year since 2017. He made his Test debut in 2016 and played nine games without a century. Hopefully 2022 is the sixth year in a row with a Test hundy for Nicholls.

Rachin Ravindra's role is also a point of funk. The Blackcaps could opt not to play Ravindra for the first Test and there is still a chance for Ajaz Patel to be selected for the second Test. Ravindra's competition for first Test selection is de Grandhomme and juicy Christchurch conditions feel more favourable for de Grandhomme. Ravindra is Wellington's Plunket Shield opener, so he may earn selection if a longer, solid batting line up is desired.

We all love watching de Grandhomme bang sixes though.

The last time South Africa toured, spinner Keshav Maharaj led all bowlers with 15w @ 19.93avg. Five bowlers took 7+ wickets in the three Test series and along with Maharaj, Aotearoa's Jeetan Patel was one of them. All-round spin options JP Duminy and Mitchell Santner both bowled 25+ overs as well.

Those three Tests were all played in March and featured spinners taking wickets in Dunedin, as well as Wellington and Hamilton. Spin doesn't usually perform too well in Aotearoa, but the last time South Africa toured Aotearoa there was a decent role for spin to play - to the point where that tour was one of the best stints of Maharaj's Test bowling.

South Africa have two frontline spinners in Maharaj and Simon Harmer, Aotearoa has Ravindra. Two different strategies and curiosity wins again as I'm eager to see how these wrinkles get ironed out. Aotearoa's main weapon in Aotearoa is seam bowling and this is the case when the team is in pure 1st 11 mode, even more so when the batting line up appears weaker than usual.

Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi and Marco Jansen are all under 27-years-old with Test bowling averages below 23. Aotearoa doesn't have that fire power, although we know that Tim Southee, Neil Wagner and Jamieson will be frothing for this seam battle with South Africa. De Grandhomme could be a reliable option to clog up an end, Mitchell can nibble deliveries around and then there are Matt Henry and Blair Tickner providing support.

While the Blackcaps lost to Bangladesh at Bay Oval, they then dismissed Bangladesh for 126 and 278 in Christchurch. I'm eager to see the batting department go about their mahi as they continue to develop into their Test careers and this flows into a test of Aotearoa's depth. The seam bowling is different as they aren't just more important when batting depth is tested, South Africa have a high quality attack and the battle between the two seam attacks is the headline act for this series.

Stay curious though. Aotearoa need WTC wins right now after a slow start to the current cycle and South Africa present a unique challenge in the sense that the style of Test cricket in Aotearoa is fairly similar to South Africa compared to other nations touring Aotearoa. Aotearoa's cricketing stocks are also under the microscope here and this Test series will help us learn about Blackcaps depth, depth that will continue to be crucial through the WTC.

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Peace and love.