Sunshine and rain: A story of two southern summers
New Zealand and South Africa played each other at the start and end of their seasons, and plenty went on in between
New Zealand started a few weeks before South Africa with a gentle introduction in Zimbabwe, but one they took seriously. Far more challenging tasks awaited - away in South Africa and India before a seven-Test home summer. Their initial goal was to start winning away from home more often.
Kane Williamson was confirmed New Zealand's all-format captain in April and it was seen as nothing more than a man fulfilling his destiny. Despite being only 25, Williamson was thought capable of dealing with the dual responsibility of leading with the bat and leading the side without many problems. And the numbers proved it. In his 13 Tests as captain, Williamson scored 1079 runs at an average of 59.94 - higher than his overall average of 51.16 - with four hundreds. Two of them came in the home series against South Africa, and though they were made in drawn Tests, they were among his classiest knocks, full of composure and confidence against a strong attack.
Following a successful 2015 World Cup, Hesson was guaranteed he would stay in charge of New Zealand until 2019, so he went into this summer secure about his job, unlike Domingo, who faced the chop after the ODI team was booted from the Caribbean tri-series. At the time, Cricket South Africa had also instituted a review process (later postponed, and then finally completed) and one of the areas under scrutiny was Domingo's position.
After tearing his calf in the Dunedin Test, Ross Taylor joked that his only goal for the next few summers was to make sure he can get through them uninjured, particularly against South Africa. Taylor has missed some part of New Zealand's last three series against them for various reasons. He also underwent eye surgery, which kept him out of the Chappell-Hadlee series, to add to problems with his hamstrings and fingers. He remains hopeful of staying fit for a swansong in 2019.
Both teams had to settle on new opening combinations this summer and only one of them has had success. New Zealand dumped Martin Guptill for the technically sound Jeet Raval at the start of the home Tests, and Raval has combined well with Tom Latham, who had a great summer despite a slump early on at home against South Africa.
In years to come, there will be calls for both BJ Watling and Quinton de Kock to move up the order, but they are both kingpins at No. 7. Watling's solidity adds depth to New Zealand's line-up, while de Kock has the ability to change Tests single-handedly and is savvy in batting with the tail.
This summer New Zealand went through what South Africa did in the last one, as their two premier pacemen took turns being injured. Tim Southee's ankle ruled him out of the India Tests and his hamstring forced him out of Hamilton. Trent Boult picked up a groin strain and missed the last two Tests of this series.
New Zealand's opted for a young spinner in Mitchell Santner at the start of the season, and then included a more senior player in Mark Craig, before he was injured in India. Their most interesting inclusion was Jeetan Patel, who was called back from a successful county stint, for the South Africa series. Patel may not be a long-term solution but New Zealand see him as a mentor.
The sky was sullen. Hidden behind stubborn clouds, it could not look down on Seddon Park. It is March 2017. South Africa and New Zealand have met again in an intriguing contest, but the rain forecast for all five days fell on the final morning. And so it ended.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent