A winter blast has greeted cricketers from Bangladesh and Pakistan, as they attempt to warm up for their Twenty20 international tri-series opener in Christchurch on Friday.
The start is the earliest ever in New Zealand's home summer of international cricket. So early, that snow is forecast to fall overnight
This time last week, Bangladesh were in Dubai, where the temperature neared 40 degrees celsius.
That's a drastic departure from the relatively frosty climes of the Garden City, which reached as low as five degrees on Wednesday.
The greenhouse-like indoor training facility at Lincoln at least offered some relief.
The upcoming tri-series will be the final test for the Tigers, the Blackcaps, and Pakistan before the World Cup later this month.
"The best way to prepare is to play what's in front of you, but in terms of learning and reconnecting as a side, it's really important," said Blackcaps skipper Kane Williamson.
Although just getting play underway on Friday - when Bangladesh face Pakistan in the series opener - could be an issue, with the wintery showers threatening to turn into snow at sea level on Thursday morning - something many of the Bangladesh players have never experienced firsthand.
Christchurch was chosen as the destination for the early October tri-series because it's usually dry and warm in Spring. That certainly wasn't the case on Wednesday.
"In September, October in New Zealand, don't play cricket," said Bangladesh bowling coach Rangana Herath.
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