Cricket: Tests offer chance to make a fresh start

Andrew Ellis. Photo / Getty Images

If it is accepted that the longer a cricket game lasts the greater the gulf in quality becomes, New Zealand should be dreading the start of their three-test series against South Africa this week.

After all, they are up against a formidable and settled side, sitting at No 2 in world rankings, who know they'll go top with a 3-0 whitewash.

And yet New Zealand may actually be relishing the opportunity to start the pinnacle form of the game at Dunedin's University Oval on Wednesday. They have lost their last five contests over the short forms, their confidence has taken a belting and if the teams played another three ODIs this week you wouldn't put much on New Zealand winning any.

The momentum is all going one way and on Saturday, New Zealand looked gun-shy and seriously short of self-belief at Eden Park, as the South Africans cruised to a five-wicket win to take a 3-0 series victory. For the second consecutive game New Zealand didn't even bat out their 50 overs.

"It's devastating, especially at home," acting captain Brendon McCullum said. "You want to use your home as a place where you win games, and series. Away from home you've got some challenges to meet.

"To go down 3-0 is very disappointing. We've learned a lot in the space of a week, watching world-class players go about their work. Those lessons will hopefully make us a better team."

New Zealand took just 13 wickets over the three ODIs, lost 29 and were always battling against the pace of the South African attack. Twice they got early wickets but were unable to really push the door open.

When New Zealand look at what went wrong in the limited-overs legs of the tour, they will recognise Eden Park as the place it all unravelled - not on Saturday night but back on February 22, when they butchered the deciding T20.

That turned a T20 series victory to defeat, and it all went downhill from there.

But if they need someone to talk the talk on the eve of the tests, look no further than new test squad member Andrew Ellis.

The Canterbury allrounder, who has battled serious physical adversity in the form of repeated back injuries, which came within one surgery of ending his career, is in the 13 for Dunedin.

He's unlikely to make the XI but his teammates should take note of his bullish attitude.

"Against these blokes if you take a backward step they're all over you," Ellis said. "You've just go to learn lessons as quickly as you can. They're still human.

"If you put the ball in the right place and bowl well you'll get success against them. They're not superhuman, that's for sure. Why can't we take these guys on and beat them? Win the first one, and see what happens."

Good, bold stuff, and certainly there's no point taking a defeatist view to Dunedin.

The return of test captain Ross Taylor, leading allrounder Dan Vettori, and senior seamer Chris Martin strengthens New Zealand's hand.

They won their last two tests too. This is a time for New Zealand to gather all the positives they can.