Thankfully for the cricketers, it’s not a bruising rugby contest being planned to raise funds for the benevolent funds of the rugby and cricket player associations. And that might be because Stephen Fleming is the one to have conceptualised it.

That said, Team Rugby should acquit themselves well come game time, seeing that Richie McCaw, Beauden Barrett, Israel Dagg and Jordie Barrett were all competent cricketers before switching full-time to professional rugby.

Team Cricket, meanwhile, will be coached by Fleming and is expected to include the likes of Brendon McCullum, Grant Elliott, Luke Ronchi and other prominent players.

“I thought if we had the opportunity with a brand as big as the All Blacks, it would pique my interest. There is almost a bit of romanticism around this one, bringing a game to Christchurch in its rebuild,” Fleming told New Zealand Herald.

“We’re putting our reputations on the line here. We know just how good the likes of Kieran and his rugby mates are at cricket. They’re exceptional athletes and many of them could have been international cricketers had they chosen another path. So we’re on high alert, that’s for sure.”