Cricket: Ability to dig deep sets this side apart

James Neesham of New Zealand takes a catch to dismiss Dhammika Prasad of Sri Lanka. Photo / Getty Images

Hesson lauds efforts ‘of scrappers’ to pull New Zealand out of a jam when needed.

New Zealand have a range of qualities in their test side but a collective talent for digging deep is among the most significant.

In difficult times, someone invariably steps up.

Several players have displayed that characteristic in the past year and that's part of what has led New Zealand on a steady upward path in the world rankings to No 5, and enabled them to build a formidably-good record in the past 15 months.

Yesterday's 193-run victory over Sri Lanka was a good example. It should not be forgotten that the world record 365-run sixth-wicket stand between man-of-the-match Kane Williamson and BJ Watling was born out of a situation where New Zealand were teetering at, effectively, 24 for five in their second innings.

Likewise, Jimmy Neesham helped Brendon McCullum push New Zealand into a winning position in the first test at Christchurch a few days ago. It was a different situation but, again, they were striving to put New Zealand on top.

Mark Craig took 10 wickets to win the third test against Pakistan in Sharjah in November. Tom Latham, Ross Taylor, and seamers Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner have all made notable contributions at different times. McCullum, Williamson and Watling go without saying.

"We've seen that a number of times in the last couple of years, players stepping up and being under pressure," coach Mike Hesson said. "I think the nature of test cricket is you rarely win a test from start to finish. There are ebbs and flows.

"One of the strengths of this team is they don't ride too high or too low. It's your job to right things on a day-to-day basis."

Hesson acknowledged that "to a degree" there is a growing confidence within the group that they have the wherewithal to pull themselves out of jams. "We know we've got a lot of scrappers in our team."

New Zealand expected a hard day's graft to work their way through the remaining nine Sri Lankan wickets yesterday. However, four were whistled out by lunch, including the clutch pair of Kumar Sangakkara and captain Angelo Mathews.

Sangakkara had Sri Lanka's hopes resting with him, so it was a shame he departed on five, courtesy of a Decision Review System call.

He might have got the faintest of touches to a Boult ball, but Watling had no interest behind the stumps. Snicko suggested the tiniest of wiggly lines at the moment the ball passed the bat. But it was tough being hanged on that evidence.

After that, it was a case of mopping up, and it was done efficiently. New Zealand again caught superbly, apart from a difficult one to Hamish Rutherford off Lahiru Thirimanne at mid-wicket.

Craig nabbed the bowling honours with four wickets.

Sri Lanka simply weren't good enough yesterday, albeit with determined half-centuries from opener Kaushal Silva and Thirimanne.

McCullum has long played his cricket with deep self-confidence. It's seeping into his players.

The batsmen have taken a lot of the kudos but they're being well backed up. "We have the bowlers who will get 20 wickets against most teams that we've come up against lately," McCullum said.

"Winning is a bit of a habit as well and we've started to develop that, which is good, and we've won some tight games, too, which obviously are huge for confidence as well."