Cricket: Let's not put too much spin on this

Let's stop for a reality check on the triumphant end to the season, writes RICHARD BOOCK. The truth is that the Pakistanis were below strength and we won't always get the conditions that suit us.

Optimism is the opium of life, someone once said - which sums up the atmosphere surrounding the New Zealand cricketers following their season's swansong against Pakistan.

Having spent much of the summer shooting themselves in the foot, the shot in the arm at Hamilton came as an enormous relief for all concerned, and provided New Zealand with a much-needed positive to carry into the off-season.

Until then it had been a tough, desperately frustrating slog, brightened only by the distant success in Zimbabwe and Kenya, when New Zealand were able to field a side which bore no resemblance to the one with which they ended the season.

Injury, selectorial blunders and questionable tactics wrought havoc on the long haul through Africa, leaving the team effectively in disarray for the challenges at home against Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Pakistan - and the results told the story.

Having lost their first ODI series to Zimbabwe in Africa, they then lost their first at home; they were hopelessly outgunned against a wounded Sri Lankan side and only managed to recover in time for the last event on the programme, the series against Pakistan.

That they were able to come back from 1-2 down to win the ODIs and from 0-1 down to square the tests spoke volumes about their courage and character, and left the team and NZC in a buoyant mood as the Pakistanis limped out of the country.

But perhaps it's time for a reality check. For starters, Pakistan were crippled by injury, having lost their entire frontline pace-bowling attack, including the jewel in the crown, Shoaib Akhtar.

Much has been made of the fact that New Zealand were plagued by injury as well, but the predicament is many times worse for a touring side, who cannot whistle up replacements as readily as the hosts and therefore have far fewer options.

On top of that, having demanded a third-test pitch tailor-made to their strengths, New Zealand turned up at Hamilton to find a green-top dutifully prepared.

They won the toss and sent in a Pakistan side further diluted by the loss of Moin Khan and Mohammad Sami. Everything, absolutely everything, was in New Zealand's favour.

Realistically that will not be usually the case, although if you listen to New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming or coach David Trist for any length of time, you get the distinct impression that every groundsman in New Zealand should be bending over backwards to produce sporting, green, seamers.

They were upset that the portable pitches at Auckland and Christchurch were not that way inclined, and effectively piled most of the blame for their problems on to the conditions under which they were forced to play.

Clearly, this is complete tosh.

If the only time New Zealand can expect to win a match is when they get a green-top, win the toss and the opposition lose half their team before play starts, then they might have to wait a long time before they have that winning feeling again.

Interestingly, Australia have to contend with a variety of conditions at home - spin at Sydney, bounce at Perth, a batting paradise at Adelaide - but are able to cover their bases by selecting players best suited to the surfaces.

The underlying problem for New Zealand is that they have not been able to produce enough variety in their bowling attack to cope with the variety of conditions - and in this respect the lack of development in the spin-bowling and the treatment of Paul Wiseman rate as one of the season's biggest disappointments.

Wiseman, who after 14 tests has taken one wicket fewer than John Bracewell had at a comparable stage, is New Zealand's second-best spinner by a country mile. Yet the panel continue to show no faith or confidence in his ability, despite having no one worthy of replacing him.

While many of the batsmen continue to be given the benefit of the doubt on matters of form, Wiseman is dumped as soon as his performance wavers, and now faces a difficult task rebuilding his confidence.

In the meantime, with Daniel Vettori sidelined and no other genuine international spinner in sight, New Zealand continue to complain about any surface which does not convert their battery of medium-pacers into world-beaters.

They got what they wanted in Hamilton.

But it is unlikely to happen often, let alone on their next four tours - to Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Australia or the West Indies.