ANALYSIS: The machinations of selection, depth of talent and sheer swagger of the Test series will be one of the highlights of a summer of domestic international cricket.

The Black Caps will play two Tests each against South Africa and Australia, after white-ball matches against Bangladesh and Pakistan.

The White Ferns have just one game remaining against visiting Pakistan – who picked up a shock win in the T20 series – but face a much tougher challenge when England arrive at the end of the summer.

Here’s what’s likely to entertain, excite, and possibly infuriate fans in the coming months:

Will Rachin Ravindra be part of the Test squad?

World Cup stars are likely to remain a major topic well into February.

After working three centuries for the Black Caps in the tournament in India, there were loud calls from fans for the left-handed batsman and left-arm bowler to be recalled to the red-ball team for the two matches against Bangladesh.

However, the selection group opted to stick with their top six regular batsmen and use Glenn Phillips as their third spin bowling option, with the off-spinner performing well with the ball and playing with the bat after making his only appearance in the test before the series. .

New Black Caps chief selection officer Sam Wells said Ravindra is primarily seen as a top-five batting option, meaning the most likely place for him to make the squad in Tests would be as a middle-order replacement for Henry Nicholls – or as an opener. , with Devon Conway moving to No.4.

There are no first-class matches on the domestic calendar before the home Test for Ravindra to make his case, so how he and Nicholls will fare in other formats – starting with the ODI series against Bangladesh in Dunedin on Sunday – will be closely watched. .

A weakened South Africa meant New Zealand’s first series win

New Zealand will never have a better chance of ending a 91-year drought against the Proteas.

In 17 draws between the two teams since 1932, this summer’s hosts have never beaten their rivals. South Africa have won 13 series, and the rest were draws.

The Black Caps looked set to finally break through last year, when they won the first match of the two Test series by a huge innings and 276 runs at Hagley Oval, with the tourists dismissed for 95 and 111. However, l South Africa responded with a 198-run win at the venue the same one a week later.

In February, the Proteas will arrive for matches in Mount Maunganui and Hamilton without most of their Test stars, as they will compete in South Africa’s domestic T20 competition. This means the visitors will be without the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen and Anrich Nortje, spinners Keshav Maharaj and Simon Harmer, captain Temba Bavuma and fellow batsmen Aiden Markram, Ryan Rickelton, Heinrich Klaasen and Rassie van. der Dussen.

The white fern is in dire need of repair

After poor performances in the first two T20s of the summer at home that led to a shock defeat against Pakistan, the hosts bounced back in the opening match of the ODI series before almost ruining the second match on Friday.

The New Zealand women’s team can’t just rely on veterans Suzie Bates and Sophie Devine to achieve victory with the bat.

The White Ferns desperately need young talents like Georgia Plimmer, wicketkeeper Izzy Gaze and pace bowler Molly Penfold to become regular contributors at international level.

Following Pakistan’s departure, it will be a diet of domestic matches for the country’s best players until England arrive in mid-March for five T20s and three ODIs, giving coach Ben Sawyer’s men an inside look at their ability and depth, with the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh in the month September/October is just around the corner.

The real test for the Black Caps is against Australia

The trans-Tasman rivals will arrive here almost a month after their second home Test against the Windies, fresh to continue their dominance.

It has been 30 years since New Zealand last won a home Test against our neighbours, and it will be eight years since a series of Tests took place on these shores. The final clash came when Brendon McCullum scored the fastest century in Test history, but his squad still lost seven wickets at Hagley Oval.

With World Test Championship points at stake, the reigning champions will likely be close to their full squad, including captain Pat Cummins, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne and Nathan Lyon.

Will new stars emerge this summer?

The Black Caps’ latest breakthrough is in the senior category – Devon Conway, Daryl Mitchell… even Kyle Jamieson was 25 years old when he made his debut, while Ravindra made his debut in September 2021.

You sense that Ravindra’s time as a three-format player is fast approaching, while big things are expected from leg-spinners Adithya Ashok, 21, and Will O’Rourke, 22, who are part of New Zealand’s squad for the ODIs against Bangladesh. , while pace bowler Ben Sears was a late recall due to injury.

Matt Fisher, Kristian Clarke and Mohammad Abbas could also earn higher honors this summer.

As mentioned, the White Ferns are very hungry to see one or two young players break through to become key players.