The spectacular world-record opening partnership between Martin Guptill and Kane Williamson in last Sunday’s Twenty20 international between New Zealand and Pakistan reinforced what an optimistic time it is for the Black Caps.
The frustration of a blown victory in Auckland was blown away with a vicious assault in Hamilton that made a very gifted Pakistan side look feeble.
Previous New Zealand sides would have rarely counted with such gusto and efficiency, but this current crop is made of sterner stuff. The recent spate of historic records is a tribute to this.
In the last three years, a number of records have been achieved.
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Brendon McCullum made the first triple century by a Kiwi in Tests and broke the national record for the most doubles by a single player.
McCullum and BJ Watling shared a world record sixth-wicket stand of 365 against India in 2015. Later that year Ross Taylor made 290 against Australia in Perth – the highest score by any visiting batsman in Australia.
Earlier at the Cricket World Cup, Martin Guptill smashed 237 against the West Indies, the first double century by a Kiwi in an ODI. Tim Southee snared 7-33 against England, the best bowling figures ever achieved by a Black Cap.
The halcyon days of New Zealand cricket are considered to be the period between 1980 and 1987, but is this current bunch better?
New Zealand played 47 Tests for 16 wins, 12 defeats and 19 draws in that period. They were the only side to beat the West Indies in a series in the ’80s and held the ‘Calypso Kings’ to a drawn series in the summer of 1985-86. Additionally they beat Australia in a home-and-away series.
In one-day cricket New Zealand beat every Test-playing nation at least once and despite a modest record of 42 victories in 94 games achieved at a far higher level than what previous sides had.
Sir Richard Hadlee, John Wright, Martin Crowe and Ian Smith were just some of the world-class talents to emerge in this era.
Since Brendon McCullum controversially replaced Taylor as New Zealand captain, the national side has blossomed. New Zealand haven’t lost a home Test in three years and shared a series with Pakistan and England away from home. Who is better, the ’80s crowd or the current side?
Missing from the current team’s CV is a victory over Australia, although it seems achievable in February and March in Kiwi conditions. It must be noted too that Australia were not at a strong point in the ’80s, but they are, of course, always a benchmark to be measured against.
Presently there is no obvious number one in Test cricket so the lack of a victory against a real powerhouse is another vote in favour of the ’80s era.
In one-day cricket, the present team blows the past teams out of the water. New Zealand have won 33 out of 59 games and made the World Cup final for the first time.
The manner in which New Zealand are playing their current cricket is winning universal acclaim. Aggressive, fearless and classy performances are almost becoming a rule and not an exception. The soon to be retired McCullum, Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Kane Williamson and Taylor are all world-class performers in all formats while Guptill can be imperious in the shorter forms.
New Zealand have built depth. Despite the absence of many leading players against Sri Lanka, New Zealand achieved straightforward wins in all formats.
New Zealand are shaping as a genuine threat in the Twenty20 World Cup, though their results are up and down, which is typical of most countries in the fickle format.
The present New Zealand team hasn’t quite earned the all-round right to be called the best team since the ‘Victorious 80s’ but they are well on their way to changing that.
TheDMC
Guest
Mate that is pretty harsh! ...but totally true. Despite what happened over the ditch end of last year, I think we might nab the return series in NZ.
Riccardo
Guest
Oh, I don't know Ronan. Because the Black Caps are capable of producing contests like Perth and Adelaide. Because they are not the West Indies. Because they would not likely be facing the demolition India is right now in the one-day series. Because we are a short plane ride away. There is no hiding from the bald fact that any away victory against the "shielded" big three would go some way to dispelling the negativity. But there are certain positive comparisons that can be made. I believe the Black Caps faired at least as well in the UAE against Pakistan compared to the Australians and those series were almost back-to-back. As an example. Give them a chance Ronan; they're not there yet but the Black Caps are clearly on their way, will provide sterner competition than the sides Australia repeatedly decimates and will also benefit from the experience of more regular fixtures with big brother. Your reaction is disappointing.
Zero Gain
Guest
Rugby is totally different. When the ABs are touring the UK matches are one off tests, not 3, 4 or 5 match series where the games take 5 days each. There are many other differences that makes the comparison with the ABs irrelevant. I couldn't be bothered explaining as they are so obvious. Instead of moaning about the past, look forward to the upcoming Australian tour. Kiwis have the best chance in years of concocting a win.
Rabbits
Guest
Martin Guptill just needs to score some big runs and everything will be SWEET BRO!
Nathan
Guest
If that's the way world sport was played the All Blacks should never play the wallabies again. The Socceroos should never ever have a game against the likes of Brazil, Germany or Spain. The Ausssie Davis cup team should have forfeited years ago when they were in the wilderness, and that's just Australian sport. Sri Lanka should never had the chance to win a one day World Cup. NZ shouldn't be allowed near a Rugby League field............and on and on we go.
IceBlue
Roar Pro
I was looking over a shorter time period (last 5 years). If you expand it out to your timeframe, it does even out. It's also worth noting Australia will be touring SA immediately after NZ, and then again later this year. Admittedly, these will not be for tests, but the principle of conflicting summers still applies.
Bobbo7
Guest
Like the West Indies Ronan? - haven't they had two series again them recently?
Gurudoright
Guest
Cool post bro! Including and since the 2004/5 season, Australia has played South Africa in 7 test series and NZ in 6, but after next month it will 7 series each. So I guess it sort of does stand up to scrunity.
IceBlue
Roar Pro
This is commonly trotted out as a reason, but it doesn't stand up to scrutiny. After all, it doesn't stop SA touring Australia with some frequency, and vice versa.
Targa
Guest
If Australia beat India in the 5th ODI and then we beat Pakistan 3-0, we will go to no2 in the ODI rankings in time for the start of the Chappell-Hadlee ODI series (although NZ will still be a long way behind Australia in the rankings even if we win the series).
Gurudoright
Guest
To state the obvious but no way excuses it. Australia and South Africa play their own domestic season at the same time as NZ. Hence why it is easier for England, Sri Lanka etc to tour NZ than it is for SA and Australia.
Targa
Guest
South Africa will be in NZ next summer (and we are touring there late winter/early spring). It is a good chance to knock them over but much depends on if Dale Steyn and Trent Boult are fit.
Targa
Guest
Yeah but by that logic the All Blacks would stop playing international rugby. They still play regular tests against Ireland, Scotland and Argentina who have never beaten us and Wales who haven't beaten us since 1953. England have only won one of their last 15 tests against NZ, France two of their last 20, Australia 3 of the last 26 (couple of draws too) and South Africa 2 of the last 13.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
OK
IceBlue
Roar Pro
Agreed DS. Its a bit unfair for to claim NZ hasn't been beating Australia when Australia have been refusing to play them. The last Aus-NZ test series in NZ was in the 2009-10 season, by the way. South Africa have been similarly infrequent visitors. Only England can be potentially exempted from this status. Also of note is how New Zealand has drawn overseas series against both Pakistan and England in the last 18 months, while Australia lost overseas series against the same opponents immediately before and after. Actually, Australia's overseas record over the last 5 years is generally atrocious, but that's a different story. But it seems a little convenient that every single one of NZ's victories is considered insignificant due to the opposition, when the same could be said about a fair number of Australia's opponents. Particularly when Australia plays the bulk of its games at home. Edit: Ronan, well Aus just hosted the WI for the Boxing Day test, so there's that. Plus there's the fact that under the old ICC regulations, Australia was obliged to. And didn't.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
NZ have won 1 of their last 26 Tests against Australia. One. Why would Australia go out of their way to schedule series against a country that has performed like a minnow for the past 25 years?
Wasted1
Guest
Also McCullum and Watlings stand against India was in 2014 not 2015. And the total was 352. Williamson and Watling was the 365 run stand in 2015 against SL.
Darwin Stubbie
Guest
Unfortunately - given the way the self titled big 3 ring fence series there is going to be limited opportunities for other nations to consistently test themselves ... when was the last time Aust actually deemed NZ worthy of a test series in NZ ? ...
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
This is a talented Kiwi side. But the reality is, as far as Tests go, they do not have even ONE good Test series win in the past 15 years - in that time they have not beaten a creditable opponent on the road or won at home against Aus, SA or Eng. Winning at home against India/SL/Pak/WI is of no great credit as as far as I'm concerned
Targa
Guest
Good article, but one point - we drew with the Windies in 86/87 not 85/86.