Plunket Shield cricket is back, although there's still a hefty contingent of kiwi cricketers busy on Blackcaps, Aotearoa A or even Aotearoa 11 duties and that can be viewed as a beautiful thing given the opportunities such a weird schedule offers.
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.