Two series, two completely different sets of results and two different sets of wickets. It is a truism of cricket that teams have to accept what is dished up to them in the way of the wicket/pitch, and do their best.
In New Zealand, England would have had no quibbles had they lost any of the Tests they played against the Black Caps, because all three tracks were belters and, while they provided draws, perhaps the weather was the only thing standing between New Zealand and an amazing series win against the Poms.
2-0 would have been a fitting series result, but alas, time, weather and Matt Prior stood between them and victory twice.
It must be heart breaking for Brendan McCullum and his squad to accept they came within millimetres of a series win against the might of England. But equally they know they were the better team in the series.
Okay so the Poms were without Graham Swann and Kevin Pietersen for much of the Series, and yes Tim Bresnan was absent too, but New Zealand unearthed all kinds of stable individuals with bat and ball who handled everything England could throw at them.
Coach Mike Hesson has presided over a turbulent Christmas and pre-Christmas with Ross Taylor relieved of the captaincy, a move John Buchanan fought strongly.
But New Zealand Cricket and Buchanan have weathered the storm, and right now they could justifiably say they are as competitive as the Australian cricket team on their own wickets, and perhaps on ours.
Buchanan is only a much maligned identity in Shane Warne’s mind. New Zealand Cricket CEO David White and Buchanan (and Martin Crowe) haven’t always seen eye to eye either, but compared to Warney’s avalanche lately, it is storm in a teacup.
The Ross Taylor affair split New Zealand cricket, not least because of Taylor’s failure to provide a win in Sri Lanka and because the team totalled 47 in one innings in South Africa on Taylor’s watch.
Watching that match, it seemed a hellishly harsh call to relieve Taylor of his duties, but Hesson, the board and the selectors stuck to their guns, and look what has happened.
Hesson massaged McCullum into the captain’s role, placated Taylor, and the Kiwis have looked like an amazingly resurgent side. Buchanan has gotten used to the idea and Crowe has to eat crow in terms of the results, and they and other prominent New Zealand critics have accepted that Hesson and McCullum have the situation under tight control.
It’s been a wholly liberating and binding Test series for the Kiwis, and a great thing for world cricket.
Interestingly, New Zealand captains are not selectors.
The bowlers have been magnificent. Kane Williamson took 4/44 in reducing England to 9/315 and came within a bee’s proboscis of an historic victory over the Mother Country.
But Trent Boult, Neil Wagner, Bruce Martin, Tim Southee and Doug Bracewell have been awesome in this series on flat and largely unhelpful tracks, and the fact there are several other quicks and several talented bats waiting to see action for New Zealand points to a fabulous period for their cricket.
Dan Vettori is close to a comeback. Jessie Ryder is at Weightwatchers. And Buchanan keeps bringing up names that produce on the field, merely by the exposure to Hesson’s no nonsense system. At 38, he is what cricket is – a young man’s game.
Peter Fulton, Hamish Rutherford, Williamson and McCullum have provided an absolute welter of runs in this series against the likes of Stuart Broad, James Anderson, Monty Panesar and Steven Finn.
Taylor looked great and Dean Brownlie got in behind the quicks with great courage. DJ Watling is more than a fair keeper.
And McCullum led from the front, scored runs, played hurt and did everything a captain should.
Contrast that with the tale of woe Australia left behind from the Indian tour and one can easily see who is on a high.
I can’t account for how much credit Buchanan should get in NZ. Crowe sings his praises and they both wanted Taylor to continue to captain, but the shakeup resulted in the right man taking the reins on the field and the team benefitted hugely as a consequence.
That the identities have accepted the Taylor Affair and moved on is a great thing, and I dare say we will be hearing a lot more about the Black Caps under McCullum.
Under Buchanan, Hesson and McCullum and with the six selectors on the same page, all is rosy, droughts aside.
If an Aussie can get a guernsey in the Land of the Long White Cloud, then surely a South African can coach Australia to a resurgence. We will wait and see!
Ian M
Guest
Unfortunately, news today is that Jesse Ryder is in hospital after an altercation in Christchurch last night and Vettori is fine bowling but struggling running between the wickets and fielding due to injury. I think Ryder has probably played his last test for New Zealand and Vettori may not be seen until next summer if at all. As usual with the Blackcaps - 2 steps forward and 1 step back.
SandBox
Roar Guru
it's always amusing to observe two drooling illiterates wallow in self-congratulation Right? Right? GFY!
Col
Guest
When comparing current sides I like to use the "who would be picked in the other team" rule: Who from the Kiwi side would be picked in the current Aussie side and vice versa? McCullum, Taylor, Vettori (when fit) and Boult would be lock ins in either side. Warner, Clarke, Siddle, and Pattinson would be lock ins for either side. That leaves Rutherford v Cowan (prob Rutherford) Watling v Wade (toss of a coin) Williamson v Hughes (toss of a coin) Based on this logic I reckon the two teams are very even. Ordinary, but even.
Andy_Roo
Roar Guru
Hi Art, A good article but I think there are still some questions to be asked of the NZ team. Frstly I would not be so quick to hail Brendon McCullum as a good captain. One decent series is not enough. However i like him batting at number six where his agressive style is better suited than opening. He regularly failed to make big scores as an opener and a quick 20 or 30 is never good enough at the top of the order. In terms of captaincy his agressive style may be a good thing. Ross taylor has said himself that he is not completely comfortable back in the team environment just yet. However his willingness to move on and commitment to achieving success within the team is commendable. Jesse Ryder should take a leaf out of Taylor's book in terms of commitment and hard work. The NZ batting looks promising with Rutherford, Williamson and Brownlie. Fulton has added experience and as a unit I think they can work well and put together some good innings. The bowling also looks promising with Boult, Bracewell and Southee. Martin may be doing well but for mine Vettori comes straight back in when fit. His experience is invaluable, his batting is a big plus. Overall I think this squad can achieve some good results in the future. I would certainly expect them to climb up the rankings. They have shown that they can fight and compete. Drawing with ENG and AUS recently, winning in SL point to good things ahead. A return to the golden age of Hadlee and Crowe et.al. is unlikely but a stronger NZ is good for test cricket worldwide. Closer ties between AUS and NZ domestic cricket would also be a good step forward.
Riccardo
Guest
No doubt we are progressing. But to compare us to the might of Australian Cricket is premature. Taylor DID win a Test in Colombo, almost singlehandedly. This was after his infamous meeting with Hesson, Sandle and Carter prior to the second Test. Poorly handled but one suspects that NZC played a significant hand in this. Sandle's and Carter's reticence is damning. But to revisit this issue is pointless. Taylor has admitted himself he has not yet bedded back into the Black Caps environment and he has struggled for most of this series. Doug Bracewell hasn't played in this series and has struggled for form since his heroics at Hobart. Martin has had a successful debut but was found out yesterday when England shut up shop. He has no penetration unless the batsmen are attacking him. I am interested in the continued exposure of young Todd Astle, the leg-spinner. He remains error prone but his deliveries have bite and more importantly, loop and drift and he is a handful when he gets it right. With the return of Mitchell Mcclenaghan and hopefully Ryder in the middle order we start to have a little depth and compeition for places which is healthy. It may be a draw but the Black Caps still walk away with the plaudits for me. That this series bodes well for the future of this still improving team is not insignificant and I congratulate Hesson and McCullum for their selections and captaincy.
Ian M
Guest
A decent article, in general, I think the Blackcaps have identified the basis of a decent settled team and could certainly give Aus a game currently. Consistency is going to be the key for them now and staying injury-free (there is little depth in NZ cricketing ranks in my opinion). A few points I would beg to differ with you on though. 1) The Dunedin pitch was awful, I think the commentators, press, Blackcaps and Pommy fans spoke seemed to be able to agree on that. 2) I think the rain in Wellington helped the Blackcaps more than the English. 3) The Poms were very fortunate to survive in the 3rd test with a draw but also some credit for not capitulating under the pressure. 3) It wasn't so much the decision to remove Taylor as captain that upset so many NZ fans, it was the manner that Hesson went about it. I still think there are some bridges to build with the fans over that issue. 4) The 47 all out was on McCullum's watch, Taylor was stood down for that series. 5) I think Trent Boult IS the strike bowler that NZ need, definitely the leader of the attack ahead of Southee, he's got decent pace, can swing the ball and bowl long spells, again consistency is the key for him. I'll be a little disappointed if Vettori comes back in without having to prove himself again. Martin, as the incumbent has looked like he has something about him and Vettori really hasn't been an effective wicket-taking bowler for the past few years. I can't see him running through a team on a tiring pitch any more so than Martin.
Paul
Guest
Australia may not even qualify for the next FIFA World Cup based on last night's performance, while NZ may just need to win a 2-legged playoff against Honduras.
amateur hour
Guest
Oh Robert, you just got owned! All in good fun though right? right? DH!
Jerry
Guest
Yeah, you'd never see Aus getting excited about a draw. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2012-10-20/wallabies-all-blacks-fight-out-gritty-draw/4324962
Robert
Guest
The kiwis really know how to get excited about draws.2010 soccer WC now this series.God forbid they actually win something other than union -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download it now [http://itunes.apple.com/au/app/the-roar/id327174726?mt=8].
Ra
Guest
Well done Jerry. Keep it humble, but we've got to celebrate the small things and let the big stuff look after themselves. We guts it out, the little Chihuahua with needle sharp teeth on a little group of islands in the southern seas stood up to the might of the slobbering British bulldog. Yes we took some embarrassing thrashings recently. We weathered it in the South Africa Test series, then found our feet in the shorter form, celebrated that and stood up to the Poms on home soil - so celebrate boys, because we've got to now go over to their kennel and scrap it out again to prove it was no fluke. The thing about getting a good hiding is that you do a good self review and make changes. We did, the Aussies well and the Poms will see this drawn series as a loss, and they won't like that at all. Expect the big Pome stiff upper lip when you get up there chaps - what ! We might catch them napping because the hungry bulldog might have his eye on a good leg of Kangaroo, and the Ashes, a better cut than the scrawny Kiwi.
richard
Guest
It's just so good to see NZ competitive for a change,instead of roadkill which they have been for what seems forever. On the game,we had our chances but didn't take them.The two dropped catches,particularly off Matt Prior proved costly.Good to see we may have some openers and if we can shore up the lower order we could have the makings of a good team.Oh,and a world class spinner wouldn't go astray. This tour will only prove itself if this team continues to improve,and doesn't revert back to its old ways.
peeeko
Roar Guru
just checked the world rankings and NZ are ranked 8th in both ODI and tests, way bellow Australia. 1 decent series does not make you a good team in rugby league Australia have won 12 of their last 14 encounters against the kiwis according to the FIFA rankings Australia are ranked 39 in football and NZ are ranked 88
Jerry
Guest
Well the weather probably saved NZ more in the 2nd test than it did England in the first, so I don't really see how 2-0 would have been a fair result. And Doug Bracewell hasn't been anything in this series, let alone being awesome. Let's not get ahead of ourselves, it was a good series but NZ cricket isn't out of the woods. We still don't have a genuine strike bowler or a spinner who can turn the ball and other than Williamson, our top order bats all have technical deficiencies.
Johnno
Guest
You bet ya it is kiwi better at cricket and other sports. kiwi population of 4.5 million smaller than NSW, are better than the aussies 22 milion inmmost sports now NZ: rugby union- world champions rugby league-world champions cricket- better test team, and did better at the ODI world cup than Australia, NZ made the semi-finals we were bundled out in the quarter finals field hockey - womens team better Netball- equal probably kiwis too soccer- well very close to call very even, heck there Olympic team made the Olympics, and didn't lose one match at the men's world cup.
Saad
Guest
Yes! Kiwi cricket is more advanced than Australian cricket.