The NZ Government's relaxation of quarantine rules for the All Blacks' Bledisloe Cup matches next month has the Blackcaps feeling encouraged about their upcoming international schedule.
The NZ cricket team are scheduled to face four different opponents at home this summer and some of their own players will also be seeking an exemption.
On Thursday, Blackcaps bowling coach Shane Jurgensen signed on for another two years, but it's now been six months - a quarter of that timeframe - since the side bowled a ball in anger.
"It'd be nice to mark out some run ups again," Jurgensen admits.
They'll know if that will happen soon, with a Government decision on the arrival of the West Indies, Pakistan, Australia and Bangladesh expected as early as next week.
The relaxed rules for the Bledisloe Cup have left the Blackcaps confident of a similar exemption for the touring sides.
"It probably shows progress on that front for us as well," says coach Gary Stead. "Hopefully, we'll see some international cricket in the next few months here."
That's because the Wallabies will be allowed to train from day three of their 14-day quarantine, which will be equally as important for cricketers.
"If you then expect teams to go from nothing for 14 days, it's probably going to take that time again to get them up to being match ready - or even close to match ready," Stead adds.
He also hopes the same exemptions can be given to his own players returning from the Indian Premier League, or the likes of Kane Williamson, Mitchell Santner and Trent Boult will be ill-prepared, when they return in late November.
"We'll just have to wait and see with the Government on that, but that's what we hope to be able to do," he says.
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