After again succumbing so meekly to South Africa this week, the answer to my question could arguably be answered: "On the treatment table". However, even with Vettori, Southee and Taylor in the side, it is difficult to imagine the Black Caps getting close to Amla, AB, Steyn et al now they have the ruthless streak to accompany the all-round talent in depth. With the prospect of two series against England, I'm afraid New Zealand's job of recovery isn't getting much easier in 2013, and their eighth place in the ICC Test rankings looks set in stone for a while yet.
I read this week a quote from the squad that they felt more comfortable with shorter formats. Hmm. Well, it's true that they seem to come alive during World Cups so what is their ODI ranking? Ninth! Well, if that's the NZ comfort zone, I wonder what discomfort means! Even when their respected skipper Vettori was playing regularly, they were languishing in the same doldrums going back to 2010. At that time, Pakistan were struggling and the West Indies had yet to rediscover their mojo, enabling the team to sit briefly at six in the league table.
Look back a full ten years and New Zealand were, remarkably, standing proud in thrid place behind only Australia and South Africa! How could that have happened? Well, between December 2000 and October 2003, they played ten 'series' losing only one (a solitary Test against Pakistan). My use of inverted commas is deliberate as most of those rubbers comprised only two games. Nevertheless they beat Bangladesh and India (2-0) at home, and even the Windies away, Lara, Hooper, Chanderpaul, Gayle and all.
The class of 2003 may not have equalled the glory days of the 1980s when Sir Richard Hadlee and Martin Crowe were amongst the best in the world. Nevertheless, captain Stephen Fleming marshalled a very useful squad. Mark Richardson averaged 44 with the bat, while Craig McMillan, Nathan Astle and Fleming were also very good international performers. However, to win matches you also need bowlers. New Zealand were fortunate to call upon a strike bowler in the form of Shane Bond - when fit - backed up by the youthful all-rounder Vettori, Daryl Tuffey and even Scott Styris.
How the Black Caps would love to have a Shane Bond firing on all cylinders this year! A team of useful bits 'n' pieces players may get you to World Cup knockout stages but will always get found out over five days. Guptill and Williamson have promised so much but have yet to show sufficient consistency. Credit to BJ Watling for his battling half-centuries against the mighty Proteas but how they missed the late-order stability provided by Vettori. It was also sad to see Brendan McCullum trying hard to restrain himself at the top of the order. Defence does not come easily and he tends to get out to rash, impatient strokes. Perhaps he should try and play his natural game a la Gayle and Sehwag. At least he'll have some runs on the board before he heads back to the pavilion. On the other hand, his side could become accustomed to three-day Tests, and that would be no good for cricket. Venues would never sell advance tickets for the fourth or fifth days! Bowling remains a problem, too. Tim Southee on his day is a very fine swing bowler but he has too few of such days, and Chris Martin is near to retirement.
IN the past four years, their only series triumphs have been single-game contests against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh. Nicking the odd victory over Sri Lanka and Australia always helps, and Doug Bracewell will always remember his six-for to beat the Aussies by seven runs in Hobart. He and his fellow bowlers will need more of those this coming year if they are to advance to the dizzy heights of seven in the rankings.
