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Young cricket fans got to bowl with the best this afternoon as some of the Blackcaps hit the beach for a fun and relaxed game with Tauranga children.

Liam Collett hits a high ball at the beach cricket. Photos by: Cameron Avery.

Bringing first-class international cricket to the Bay Oval for the very first time, the New Zealand team is in town for two one-day internationals against South Africa on Tuesday October 21 and Friday October 24.

The boys got to ditch the shin pads and the gloves this morning though for a quick game with about 20 of their biggest fans.

'It's always nice to see the kids come down and for us to spend a bit of time with them,” says Blackcap batsman Tom Latham.

Jack Jones hits a ball bowled to him.

The 22-year-old's advice to the young cricketers is to have fun.

'I think they've just got to keep having fun, as long as they're having fun then I'm sure that they'll be fine.”

Away from the one-day side for a few series, Tom is returning to the squad for the side's first-ever match at Tauranga's Bay Oval on Tuesday, alongside teammate Dean Brownlie.

Tom says it's nice to be back in the mix – and if he gets the chance to play on Tuesday he'll tackle it with both hands.

'We'll have a couple of meetings over the next few days and sort out how we want to play as well as batting and bowling plans.

'The next couple of days will be vital for us with training, we're certainly looking forward to the challenge ahead. All the boys are looking forward to getting back into international cricket.”

Welcomed to Mount Maunganui with some sunshine, Tom says it's always nice coming to the Bay of Plenty.

'It's always a great spot. The Bay Oval's a lovely ground to play at and with the new pavilion is makes it even better.

'It's going to be exciting to play there and also exciting for the public as well. Hopefully the crowd will turn up and we'll get a good go.”

The ANZ One Day International Series begins in Mount Maunganui with the opening matches on Tuesday and Friday, followed by the third and final in Hamilton on Labour Day.

Blackcaps Head Coach Mike Hesson says with Ross Taylor out for the series with a calf strain and Kane Williamson missing Tuesday's opener due to a wrist injury, it gives Brownlie and Latham a chance to impress.

'Tom had a very good tour to the West Indies with the Test team and also impressed in the warm-up match in Lincoln, while Dean was in strong form on the recent NZA tour to the UK.”

Brownlie, 30, last played an ODI for New Zealand in the West Indies in July 2012 and has moved from Canterbury to the Northern Knights this season.

Latham was last seen in the coloured ODI clothing in Sri Lanka in November last year.

In terms of the bowling stocks, Hesson is pleased to announce Tim Southee is fit for the series after not being considered for yesterday's abandoned warm-up match against Ireland due to a sore shoulder.

He's joined in the squad for the opening match by his Test bowling partner Tauranga's Trent Boult, who was last in an ODI side in February 2013, and youngster Matt Henry who made a fine ODI debut against India in January with 4-38.

Hesson also welcomes the experience of former captain Daniel Vettori who has been 'training the house down” over the winter and got through 10 overs against Scotland.The head coach says while the Blackcaps had the wood on South Africa the last time the two sides met early last year ,with New Zealand's first ever series win in South Africa (2-1), there's no doubting that the Proteas are one of the best sides in the world.

'South Africa are a very consistent outfit in all forms, deservedly ranked second in one day cricket and have world-class players throughout their line-up.”

Hesson adds with the ANZ ODI Series being the earliest ever start in the history of New Zealand cricket, the spring conditions will be a bit of an unknown.

'We've never played international cricket this early in the season so the conditions will be challenging and it's hard to know how the new ground at Bay Oval will shape up.

'But both teams will be hungry to get their Cricket World Cup preparations off to a good start.”

Blackcaps squad for opening ANZ ODI v South Africa on Tuesday:

Brendon McCullum (c) - Otago Volts

Corey Anderson - Northern Knights

Trent Boult - Northern Knights

Dean Brownlie - Northern Knights

Martin Guptill - Auckland Aces

Matt Henry - Canterbury

Tom Latham - Canterbury

Mitchell McClenaghan - Auckland Aces

Nathan McCullum - Otago Volts

Kyle Mills - Auckland Aces

James Neesham - Otago Volts

Luke Ronchi - Wellington Firebirds

Tim Southee -Northern Knights

Daniel Vettori -Northern Knights