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New Zealand’s 53-run victory over the West Indies yesterday sealed a 2-1 series win, and marked the first time in 12 years the Black Caps have defeated a top-eight nation in an away series.
The last time the Kiwis managed this feat, a 1-0 series victory also against the West Indies, they were ably led by Stephen Fleming.
Furthermore, this team possessed a bowling attack spearheaded by Shane Bond, who, according to Tony Cozier, bowled “fire and brimstone” towards the West Indian batsmen.
Thanks to a combination of Fleming’s shrewd captaincy, a solid batting order and Bond’s bowling, New Zealand finished the year ranked third in the ICC Test rankings and full of confidence. As Lawrence Booth articulately wrote in the 2003 edition of Wisden, “the quiet men of international cricket… began to make some noise.”
This newfound confidence, however, was short-lived. Within three years, numerous retirements and untimely injuries exposed a lack of depth in New Zealand cricket, leading to series whitewash defeats to England, Australia and South Africa and a drop to seventh in the world rankings.
While the bowling attack, headed by wily off-spinner Daniel Vettori and a seemingly never-ending carousel of capable but unremarkable medium pacers, could compete at international level, the batting line-up was woefully fragile.
In the 2007 tour of South Africa, New Zealand were dismissed for fewer than 200 in all four innings. Only Fleming, who would retire later that year, scored a half-century. Between 2002 and 2011, excluding tours of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, the Black Caps did not win a single Test match overseas.
This unenviable streak was broken with a dramatic seven-run victory over Australia at Hobart. The win came on the back of the performances of three young bowlers: Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Doug Bracewell. This marked the beginnings of a confident team that over the next three years would go on to challenge England both at home and away and, more recently, defeat India in a compelling home series.
The New Zealand revival can be put down to numerous factors. As mentioned, the success is to a large extent due to the Black Cap bowling stocks. Both Tim Southee (123 wickets at 29.83) and Trent Boult (91 wickets at 27.45) are tremendously talented fast bowlers who can bowl both accurately and swing the new ball.
They are ably assisted by South-African-cum-New-Zealander Neil Wagner, at first change. In these three bowlers New Zealand have their most well-rounded pace bowling attack of the past decade, which can both pressure sides with accuracy and take regular wickets.
Though there are still undoubted weaknesses in the New Zealand batting line-up, most notably in the opening positions, a strong middle-order has developed over the past few years. Stalwarts Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum have both enjoyed golden patches recently, while the increasingly impressive Kane Williamson is making a name for himself as one of the most consistent and hard-working international cricketers.
Williamson’s recent undefeated 161 to set up the victory in Bridgetown was simply faultless and indicative of a player who, at only 23, will score many more runs for his country in the future.
Finally, the importance of wicketkeeper BJ Watling cannot be understated. Outside of being very solid behind the stumps, Watling, who averages just under 40, has ensured a stability in the lower order and is developing a reputation for his ability to eke out runs with the bowlers. For a side that will rarely dominate other nations, and instead usually win close matches, this is critical.
On the back of a quality pace bowling attack, a solid batting line-up, and a typically gritty captain in Brendon McCullum, the New Zealand Test team is the strongest it has been in years.
Though they still experience some of the traditional weaknesses of a nation with a limited talent pool, namely in regards to opening positions and the lack of a quality spin bowler, don’t be surprised if they threaten some of the traditionally stronger Test nations over the next few years.
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