New Zealand are in the Champions Trophy final and while it would be another glorious achievement to win the final vs India, the calm before the final provides a better zone to assess Blackcaps cricket.
Canterbury has gone back to back with Ford Trophy championships and have won three of the last five one-day competitions in Aotearoa after defeating Auckland in the final.
Otago has sparked up an Hallyburton Johnstone Shield dynasty after winning this season's final vs Auckland to make it three HBJ Shield championships in the last four seasons.
Joseph Parker was supposed to be fighting for a world title. His scheduled bout with Daniel Dubois would have put DD’s IBF heavyweight championship belt on the line, a chance for Parker to become a two-time champion
The summer of international cricket isn't over yet as New Zealand's White Ferns have an ODI and T20I series vs Sri Lanka coming up, with the T20I portion forming a double-header extravaganza alongside Blackcaps vs Pakistan.
Otago cruised through two wins over Central Districts and their nine wins with one loss in HBJ Shield this season puts them straight into the final as favourites.
Canterbury's win over Auckland sent them straight into the Ford Trophy final, leaving Auckland to play Central Districts in the elimination final on Friday.
A win for Canterbury and loss for Auckland saw Canterbury take the top spot in Ford Trophy, with both teams chillin' on six wins.
After taking an emerging squad to Sri Lanka late last year, Aotearoa's Blackcaps have won five of their last six ODIs with three consecutive wins in the ODI Tri-Series vs Pakistan and South Africa.
Auckland went back to back with Ford Trophy wins after defeating Northern Districts, while Central Districts stopped the Canterbury streak by winning in Rangiora and Otago grabbed a win against Wellington at the Basin Reserve.
Ford Trophy cricket is back with Canterbury and Auckland leading the competition as the only teams with five wins.
Wellington Blaze and Central Stags are Super Smash champions.
As Super Smash finals are played on Sunday, let's take a moment to digest the best of the rest which includes Blackcaps/White Ferns context and notable youngsters for both competitions
Wellington hosted two game days at the Basin Reserve to start the week with Blaze winning both their games vs Auckland and Canterbury, while Firebirds lost to those teams on the men's side.
As always there are lots of funky youngsters knocking around in Super Smash and 'The Best Youngsters, Part 2' is here to offer a few key thoughts about Matt Boyle, Auckland's young core, Amelia Kerr, Eden Carson and more.
Northern Districts were having none of Otago's road trip excellence with two wins for the Brave in Dunedin, then Central Districts held down it down in Napier with two wins over Canterbury.
The Champions Trophy is back and it comes at an intriguing time for New Zealand cricket as the Blackcaps have transitioned towards a younger, fresher group.
Otago Sparks and Volts are the hottest Super Smash teams right now, while Jess Kerr is the most dominant women's player and Michael Bracewell is whacking boundaries.
Otago brushed aside Central Districts in both games in Palmerston North and Northern Districts did the double against Auckland in Hamilton in the last two Super Smash game days.
Central Districts Stags are the best men's team in Super Smash right now, while that honour is shared between Wellington Blaze and Otago Sparks in the women's competition.