Test match series win awaits the blackcaps...the crowd holds its breath

'two-metre' Peter and B-Mac meet mid-pitch to celebrate
Sir Peter of Fulton's second century of the match.
NZ v England, 25 March, 2013

The AB Enquirer is cock-a-hoop today as the mighty Black Caps are on the cusp of winning or at the least not losing a test series against the Poms. That's the Poms with James Anderson, Alistair Cook and Matt Prior in them. We busted Kevin Pieterson too. They're No. 2 in the world and we're no.8.We haven't won any test series since 2006 and only a few months ago we were bowled out for 45 by the saffas. This is turnaround stuff of the highest order. Amazing what a little bit of confidence can do.

Now, I watch a lot of cricket. Far too much really. But I don't comment a lot on it in the blog, as well, you know, I'd run out of amusing things to say about us getting thrashed all the time. Then it would descend into vitriol and I'd be accused of not supporting the boys, which is not right. I do support them wholeheartedly. I care too much to pillory them on the internet. There is nothing I want more than to see a successful NZ cricket team again.

So how have we gone from no-hopers to world beaters? Here's a quick analysis.

1. The poms are knackered. They arrived from the sub continent and a brilliant series victory against the Indians. They're tired and want to go home. Pieterson and Swann we've smashed up during the tour and Bresnan folded before he even left England.

2. We found two openers who were able to stay around longer than 10 balls. Rutherford looks like class (whether he can stay the course is another thing). Fulton less so but he has found the way to hang around and play within his comfort zone ie. anything on leg. Dulling the shine on the new ball has meant Williamson hasn't been exposed early on and he has shone.

3. Suddenly our pitches are lifeless dirt trackers and not the green seamers we and the poms are used to. They also offer absolutely no assistance to spinners either. Negating the extra height and speed of their bowlers has meant a fairly even battle with the ball.

4. Aggressive captaincy from McCullum. His fields are mental and are heavily geared towards putting people in catching positions and pressing the batsmen to make an error.

5. The bowlers have stood up. Nobody seems to be whinging and moaning about 25 overs in a day and then backing it up with another 20 the next day. Truly amazing stuff. Just go back and look at the bitching Iain O'Brien put in his columns day after day about having to bowl. Boult, Southee and Wagner have spent huge periods in the field and done it brilliantly. This has meant we have the luxury of another batter in the side.

Notable in this series has been the Lazarus like comeback of 'two-metre' Peter Fulton. A bloody brave selection has paid off big time. Dead and buried and out of international cricket, Sir Peter of Fulton has had probably the greatest cricket resurrection ever. A series average of 69 is just RIDONCULOUS for a NZ opening batsman. Well done man. You have the respect of a nation and totally deserve to be picked for the next tour to England, where hopefully a spot on the board at Lords is being reserved for you now.

If we can add Ryder and Bracewell to this team without upsetting the balance then we could be on to something good. There could be an argument for Vettori being added to the side in place of Martin too. Our batting would go from pretty good to phenomenal with these three added.

Just have to figure out how to tell Ross Taylor to bat with a little more patience though...

Of course, the other thing to worry about is why on earth nobody in Auckland turned out to watch the Blackcaps. Crazy, considering the state of the series. Hopefully it is the last time ever they are asked to stage a test and it can go back to Seddon Park, Hamilton where it belongs.