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.
Having recently scribbled about Otago Volts' young seam attack, Jacob Duffy took a 5-for and along with Nathan Smith and Matt Bacon they accounted for the 9 wickets taken by Otago bowlers in the win over Wellington Firebirds.
We have only just started the summer of cricket in Aotearoa and already, at various stages Jimmy Neesham has shown that he's on the right track via a change of scenery in moving up to Wellington. Meanwhile, this Dean Foxcroft lad goes alright.
While many kiwis with an interest in White Ferns cricket would have been optimistic about their World T20 chances, especially after doing what they always do in beating up weaker opposition and impressing in warm up games, a first up loss to India came with a severe dose of reality.
After being given a wee bit of a hiding in the T20I series against Pakistan, Aotearoa's Blackcaps are nicely poised heading into the third and final ODI with a win in the first game along with strong performances across the two games thus far.
There is hope for all you cricketing plebs, after ol' mate offie Will Somerville got called up to the Blackcaps Test squad to face Pakistan in United Arab Emirates.
From another Kiwi-African making his mark in domestic cricket, to a couple blokes who have been in and out of the Blackcaps mixer and a young slugger warming up; round five in the Ford Trophy had plenty to suss out.
ODI time for Aotearoa's Blackcaps as we slide on into the next stage of their tour of United Arab Emirates, into a format that means a whole lot more right now with the World Cup looming than the 20-over stuff and coach Gary Stead has called up George Worker and Lockie Ferguson.
As Wellington Firebirds seamer Hamish Bennett sits on his throne, watching over the kingdom he rules as Aotearoa's best domestic seamer, he sees a trio of young Otago seamers making waves in the slums of the city.
There was only one century-maker in Ford Trophy round four as Auckland Aces skipper Craig Cachopa led his troops to a narrow win over Canterbury, with Chad Bowes finally finding his groove at the top of Canterbury's batting order as well and Wellington’s Jimmy Neesham steadily chiming in.
Two T20I against Pakistan in their United Arab Emirates cauldron and two losses for Aotearoa's Blackcaps.
Not wanted for the Aotearoa 'A' tour, nor the Blackcaps T20 squad, Henry Nicholls and Tom Latham have been living it up in the delightful world of domestic cricket.
The beauty of each sporting season is that there's a high chance someone new pops on to the radar, taking their opportunity in stepping up to the national level and right now, that's Wellington Firebirds opening batsman Andrew Fletcher.
Aotearoa's Blackcaps get their T20 series against Pakistan underway in the coming days and Ajaz Patel has been given a limited overs call up, joining Glenn Phillips and Corey Anderson as the additional squad members.
Having explored a few of the batsman things after Ford Trophy round two, now it's time for the bowlers and specifically Jacob Duffy and Will Williams.
There is no shortage of contenders for Aotearoa's most sizzling batsmen right now and any keen observer of domestic cricket would throw up a few names that aren't quite as 'sexy' as the other as Michael Bracewell and Hamish Rutherford smacked centuries in Ford Trophy round two.
Three 50-over games and three losses for Aotearoa 'A' over in United Arab Emirates against Pakistan 'A'.
Two games and two loss for Aotearoa 'A' in their 50-over series against Pakistan A, although as per usual it's the intricacies and personnel decisions that we're zoning in on.
The oddly timed return of Ford Trophy cricket saw many of the same suspects who scored runs in the first two Plunket Shield rounds, continue their run-scoring, but Auckland Aces' Sean Solia and Wellington Firebirds' Andrew Fletcher lead the pack with centuries.
Two vacant Blackcaps T20 squad spots have been filled with Corey Anderson and Glenn Phillips being promoted from the Aotearoa 'A' squad.