One factor that has been largely overlooked when analysing the state of New Zealand's test game is their unprecedented century-making power.
The team who walked off the field at Sharjah were the proud owners of 42 test centuries. While that may not sound like a monster total when you consider that Sachin Tendulkar (51) and Jacques Kallis (45) scored more on their lonesome, it is almost certainly the most a New Zealand XI has held at one time.
This is more important than number-crunching for the sake of it. Centuries, particularly big ones, are important pieces of collateral. It is on the back of these that Mark Craig and Ish Sodhi have been allowed to learn their craft in relatively low-pressure circumstances.
It is the reason Brendon McCullum can set attacking fields for Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner, long after the time when normally third slip becomes third man.
Big centuries mean big totals and big totals mean well-rested bowlers delivering to attacking fields. It means less grumpy, reactive captains when the opposition batsmen start to press.
