Less than a fortnight after falling just short of Cricket World Cup glory, several of the top Black Caps return to action this week in the Indian Premier League.
Tim Southee - Cricket World Cup, New Zealand versus Bangladesh in Hamilton Photo: PHOTOSPORT
In-form seam bowler Trent Boult, New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum, and all-rounder Corey Anderson are all expected to make a big impression.
The Black Caps fast bowlers Adam Milne and Mitchell McClenaghan are playing in the lucrative competition for the first time, as is star batsmen Kane Williamson, while pacemen Matt Henry and Tim Southee are back for another season.
Meanwhile, the Black Caps coach Mike Hesson is preparing for the New Zealand's tour of England which starts next month, but he said he was not annoyed by the IPL's timing.
Hesson said the IPL had become an established part of cricket.
The IPL begins tomorrow morning with Anderson and McClenaghan's Mumbai taking on Kolkata.
