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New Zealand are on their way to becoming a Test force

Brendon McCullum, a leader. (AFP PHOTO / MARTY MELVILLE)
Expert
7th January, 2015
21

After a stellar 2014 in Test cricket, where they didn’t lose a series and won the most number of Tests in a calendar year in their history, New Zealand have kicked off 2015 with another victory.

The Black Caps have got that winning feeling and are finding ways to turn losing situations into wins, with the second Test against Sri Lanka at the unique Basin Reserve in Wellington a prime example.

The Sri Lankans led by 135 after the first innings, thanks to another double hundred by the incomparable Kumar Sangakkara, but after stumbling to 5-149 in their second dig, the home team not only recovered but dominated the rest of the match, thanks to a world record sixth wicket partnership of 365 by Kane Williamson and BJ Watling.

Williamson, who had a breakthrough year in 2014, finished unbeaten on 242 and Watling 142 as Sri Lanka was set 390 to win. They were bowled out for just 196, ensuring a comfortable win for the Black Caps, which looked unlikely after the first innings. This result gave them a 2-0 series triumph.

In 2014 New Zealand beat India at home and the West Indies away and drew with Pakistan 1-1 in a three-Test series in the UAE – which was a better result than Australia, who lost there 2-0 – and now have accounted for Sri Lanka.

This team is settled, with the selectors willing to back the incumbents and give them an extended time in the national side to find their way and gain confidence, and they are repaying the faith.

Left-hander Tom Latham has found his niche as an opener, Williamson, Ross Taylor and skipper, Brendan McCullum, who became the first New Zealander to score more than 1000 Test runs in a calendar year in 2014, form one of the best middle order batting line-ups in world cricket. And at number six it’s either batting all-rounder Corey Anderson or Jimmy Neesham.

Both are left handers, with Neesham a slightly better bat and Anderson, a left-arm bowler, a bit more accomplished in the bowling ranks at this stage.

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They probably both deserve to be in the side, but for team balance the selectors are preferring a specialist opener, giving Hamish Rutherford another chance in the Sri Lankan series and he didn’t let them down.

BJ Watling is a fine wicketkeeper-batsman now and their bowling attack is solid.

They have an excellent opening combination in left-armer Trent Boult and Tim Southee, with Doug Bracewell the third seamer, who like Rutherford has shown he is good enough at this level, but just neesd to be slightly more consistent to nail down his spot.

Their spinner Mark Craig is improving all the time. He may never be a match winner, but he performs his role and is a very handy lower order batsman as well, on the verge of being a bowling all-rounder. He did take four wickets in Wellington to help bowl his team to victory against Sri Lanka.

New Zealand have either beaten or drawn series with teams below or around them over the past 12 months but now for them to be a legitimate force in Test cricket they need to dispose of England and especially South Africa and Australia.

They come to Australia for a three-Test series next summer. The Trans Tasman rivals have never played more than three Tests against each other in a series. On form New Zealand deserve this to be a heavyweight bout of four or more Tests.

One thing is for sure, if the Black Caps win that series, all nations will be looking over their shoulders as this country keeps rising up the Test rankings.

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