Latham excited about international cricket's return to Christchurch for Kiwi-Lanka Test

New Zealand star batsman Tom Latham is reportedly excited about international cricket's return to Christchurch as his side would face Sri Lanka on Boxing Day in the first Test of the two-match series.

Latham, who was a schoolboy when the last time international cricket was played in Christchurch, would open in the Boxing Day Test against Sri Lanka as Hagley Oval makes its test debut.

Latham is the only hometown lad in the side and said that making the step from a New Zealand fan to teammate was special, Stuff.co.nz reported.

Latham said that he always used to go along to AMI Stadium and watch, adding that he used to try and watch New Zealand whenever he could and to now be playing for them is pretty special.

One of Latham's teammates is responsible for one of the batsman's best memories of international cricket in the Garden City.

When Latham was 17 he trucked along to the ground formerly called Lancaster Park and watched New Zealand take on Australia in the second of two Twenty20 internationals.

Australia had won the first match a couple of days earlier, winning by six wickets, but the second became the Brendon McCullum show, as the current skipper scored a boundary-laden 116 off just 56-balls as New Zealand charged to 214-6.

Australia managed the same scored with Michael Clarke being run out off the final ball trying to score the winning run and New Zealand then won the super-over.

Latham revealed that he was there that game, when McCullum scored 100, adding that it was pretty cool.