View photos: NZ v England, fifth one-dayerKEY POINTS:
If yesterday proved anything it is that Daniel Vettori is not the finished article as a captain.
There's nothing outrageous in that. His predecessor, Stephen Fleming, said he only felt he had it sussed in the last three years of his reign.
So the fact Vettori put the ball in his most inexperienced bowler's (Jesse Ryder) hands for the final over should not be viewed as anything more than a blip - proof that his decision-making ability is still in gestation. At the moment he appears to be the type of captain that works on hunches rather than strategies.
He will learn a few more lessons in the upcoming test series, just as he did in South Africa. Then he'll scarcely have time to gather his thoughts before he contemplates a test series in England.
In terms of his leadership, his familiarisation with English conditions, and his ability to get intimate knowledge about the form and state of mind of his troops, the three first-class lead-up games against Kent, Essex and England 'A' are absolutely vital. To be even contemplating joining the tour late is a sad indictment on where priorities lie.
No, seriously, you have to feel for the players - this pesky England tour and the two IPL games they stand to miss have probably conspired to cost them a speedboat and a decent pair of waterskis to park up at their Southern Lakes holiday homes. Such are the sacrifices you make to play for your country.
But if New Zealand Cricket CEO Justin Vaughan bows, and all the noises he's making suggest there will be some give and take, it will demonstrate to the public that today's cricketers know the price of everything and the value of nothing.
"We can't worry too much about how it looks," Vaughan told the Herald on Sunday.
You wouldn't say something like that unless you knew, deep down, that it looks really, really ugly.
This isn't Dave Dee, Mick and Titch we're talking about, but the skipper, first mate and bursar. They should be there from the outset. They must know that.
There is no reason this nonsense shouldn't have been knocked on the head as soon as it became apparent the events overlapped.
Vaughan's statement that he would consult John Bracewell, Lindsay Crocker and the affected players just gave oxygen to a story that should have been smothered immediately. The waterskiing can wait until next year, surely.
