Black Caps back for Bay Oval clash on Sunday

The return of the Black Caps has given this weekend's round of the McDonald's Super Smash a major boost.

The Knights will include a mix of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner in Hamilton tonight against the Auckland Aces and against the Volts at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval from 2.10pm tomorrow.

The Volts will bring plenty of power with Jimmy Neesham, Neil Wagner and Neil Broom, back in black after six years in the international wilderness.

Every game at home for Tauranga born-and-bred Boult is a delight and the left arm quick is looking forward to marking out his run-up at the Oval on Sunday.

"I love coming home so it is going to be good to get back in the Knights side and get a chance to put the pink clothing on," Boult said.

"I think it is great not just for the Knights but for all the provincial sides to get their Black Caps back and bring some crowd numbers in and get the game firing again.

"I am definitely looking forward to kicking off this New Zealand summer nicely and build from what we did to the Pakistani side. It will be a nice curtain-raiser towards the Boxing Day one-dayers and then further on into the New Year."

Boult's opening bowling mate in the Black Caps, Tim Southey, is also eager to play at home again after a tough tour to India and 0-3 ODI series loss in Australia.

"It is always enjoyable to come back to a different environment," Southee said.

"I remember when I first started playing for ND before I played for New Zealand, when the Black Caps came back it was always exciting for the other guys.

"It is always nice to go back to where it all started. We have a double header on Saturday and Sunday so it should be good."

Southee likes playing at the Bay Oval and is hoping a good sized crowd will turn up to support the Knights on Sunday.

"Yeah it's a lovely ground. We are pretty fortunate in the ND area to have three lovely grounds with Bay Oval, Seddon Park and Cobham Oval in Whangarei.

"There is something about playing here in Mount Maunganui, especially Twenty20 cricket. Being able to walk five minutes to the beach and have a swim in the morning and then cruise down and play a game of Twenty20 cricket."

In the absence of injured captain Daniel Flynn, the Knights will be led by in-form opening batsman Dean Brownlie, who is hopeful of a Black Caps recall this summer.

Brownlie is obviously pleased to have three of the best bowlers in the country back in the fold this weekend.

"Because of their experience you can leave a lot more in their hands as they have played a lot against good quality players before. You understand how they want to bowl and how they want to set their fields, and they probably take a bit more responsibility themselves.

"Hopefully we will get a good crowd and over the summer holiday period we will get even bigger crowds."

Tickets information: www.supersmash.co.nz