Half-centuries from Tom Latham and Kane Williamson put New Zealand at 255-4 and in hot pursuit of Sri Lanka on day two of the first Test on Thursday.
New Zealand's Kane Williamson admits he is a big fan of "phenomenal" Joe Root, believing England's top-ranked Test batsman will break many more records.
England star Joe Root has been rewarded for his excellent series against the West Indies by overtaking New Zealand veteran Kane Williamson and re-claiming his crown as the No.1 ranked batter on the ICC Men's Test Player Rankings.
Latham spoke to reporters on Wednesday as New Zealand Cricket released its summer schedule, which starts with a three-test series against England in November before white-ball series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan.
Kane Williamson will opt out of a handful of internationals in January to take up a contract in South Africa's Twenty20 league but plans to keep playing for New Zealand for as long as he can, the batsman said on Thursday.
Williamson's decision marks the end of an era for a New Zealand team which made the semi-finals of the previous three T20 World Cups and the 2021 final but ultimately missed out on a maiden white-ball title.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson remained coy about his future in 20-overs internationals after his team crashed out from the T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States.
West Indies skipper Rovman Powell believes facing a recently defeated New Zealand will bode well for his side when they face off against the Kiwis at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup.
Williamson said his team had watched the Pakistan upset from their base in the Caribbean.
Kane Williamson will captain the T20 World Cup squad for a fourth time as New Zealand hunt for a maiden title after reaching the semi-finals of the last three tournaments and the final in 2021.
Fast bowler Southee and batsman Williamson will both make their 100th appearances at Hagley Oval in Christchurch with hosts New Zealand chasing a first Test win over Australia since 2011 to mark the occasion.
Seamer Mitchell Starc said Australia's bowlers aim to ensure New Zealand world-class batter Kane Williamson doesn't stay long at the crease on his 100th Test appearance.
The Black Caps hadn't beaten the Proteas in 17 previous Test series dating back to 1931, having lost 13 and drawn four.
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson made headlines with his 31st Test century as the Kiwis took complete control of the first Test on Day Three against a depleted South Africa in Mount Maunganui yesterday.
Rachin Ravindra and Kane Williamson ground out unbeaten centuries as New Zealand punished a second-string South Africa on the opening day of the first Test at Mount Maunganui on Sunday.
Williamson added that New Zealand, who have never won a Test series against South Africa, will focus on playing their brand of cricket to gain crucial WTC points.
Star batters Kane Williamson and Rachin Ravindra were named Friday in the New Zealand squad for the two-match home Test series, starting next week, against an inexperienced South Africa side.
Williamson was already set to miss the third game on Wednesday, and with the first Test against South Africa less than three weeks away, Stead said his star batsman would probably sit out the final two games as well.
World class batter Williamson missed last month's ODI and T20 series against Bangladesh while he rehabilitated a knee injury sustained nine months ago.