nzherald.co.nz will have live updates of the third test from 10.30am
For different reasons, the third test against England starting at Eden Park today is a huge contest for New Zealand.
Consider the backdrop of the season of discontent, not to mention that the world No2 nation was expected to, at the least, be more dominant than they have been in the two drawn tests of the ANZ International series thus far.
The importance of this test for captain Brendon McCullum, coach Mike Hesson, their team and New Zealand Cricket cannot be overstated.
This season, wretched in so many respects, could end in a way which gives the players and fans reasons to be cheerful for the future.
Since the millennium, only the 2002 threatened players' strike exceeds the vitriolic spat over the dumping of Ross Taylor as captain while on the tour of Sri Lanka in November. The national body and team management took heavy hits for weeks over their handling of the leadership change.
When the news came out, Hesson and, by extension, McCullum were the guys in the black hats.
Then followed a test series in South Africa where the world's No1 team, at the peak of their powers, crushed the No8 team, shorn of four of its leading players, Taylor, Dan Vettori, Tim Southee and Jesse Ryder for a range of reasons, inflicting not just hefty defeats but a degree of embarrassment.
As the players trooped from the pavilion steps to their bus at the end of the first day in Cape Town on which they'd been swept aside for 45, then bowled and fielded poorly, a spectator taunted each player: "What have YOU done today?"
Dark days. From there, they won the ODI series and competed strongly in both limited-overs rubbers against England, taking both to a decider. The first two tests, both weather hit, produced competitive cricket.
Now New Zealand have an opportunity, perhaps surprisingly, to end their summer of discontent in a most unexpected way.
For Hesson, who will most likely never be forgiven by the Taylorites for his treatment of the country's best batsman, a win at Eden Park would be a relief and maybe a hope that it would finally put to bed the rancour of December and January.
McCullum - and for some the suspicion over his part in Taylor's downfall hasn't receded - acknowledged yesterday that this test has plenty riding on it.
"Test cricket is something everyone wants to see you earn the right over a long period to show you're good enough," he said. "For fans and purists they want to see our test game improving and equally we do. That's why this series so far has been really good for us, but we know we're going to be judged by how we finish this test as well."
If New Zealand win it will give "hope and satisfaction that we're heading in the right direction".
"By no means are we the finished product. But we've taken some small steps forward, which is great. It would be fantastic if we can put this result on it as well."
McCullum confirmed that spinner Bruce Martin will definitely play today in a three-one, seam and spin split. Returning seamer Doug Bracewell's case was to be evaluated last night as he'd arrived too late for training yesterday. McCullum said it would be a tough call dropping one of the three incumbents who had performed gamely to date.
With the pitch showing tinges of green, the skipper said bowling first remained his preferred option if he has the choice.
The loss through a knee injury of Kevin Pietersen was a blow for England. "They've still got good options to come in but they're certainly not KP." Most likely it will be a sixth test for middle order batsman Jonny Bairstow.
England captain Alastair Cook hopes the wins enjoyed on Eden Park by the T20 and ODI sides will rub off.
"It's great when you come to a ground where you've won in the past," he said. "It doesn't count for anything, but it's nice when you've got good vibes in that dressing room where we've seen victories before."
Four to decide the decider
Ian Bell
5760 test runs @ 46.45, 17 100s
With the unpopular but uber talented Kevin Pietersen winging his way home after failing to recover from a niggling knee injury, Bell will be expected to pick up the slack. A prolific runmaker, Bell often escapes the plaudits bestowed upon his teammates because he does it in an unfussy, technically correct manner. There was a suggestion, too, that in his earlier days he was prone to extinguishing when the heat came on. He has conceded his wicket softly in two of his three test innings this tour and watched while Nick Compton in particular has made hay - Eden Park offers the chance to make amends.
James Anderson
295 test wickets @ 30.46, 12 5-fors
Anderson needs three wickets to become England's fourth-highest test wicket taker. Classy left-arm spinner Derek Underwood is just ahead on 297, Fred Trueman 10 further on, then only Ian Botham and Bob Willis stand ahead of the Lancastrian. More favourable conditions before now and Anderson would surely be sitting just behind Trueman instead of having to wait until facing New Zealand again at Lord's in May. Unless he goes gangbusters at Eden Park. A swingman par excellence, Anderson puts batsmen through an examination of their technique with skill rather than brute force. He's about due a big performance.
Ross Taylor
3340 test runs @ 43.37, 8 100s
New Zealand's best batsman needs to fire. In the tests he has made 31, a first-ball duck and a resolute unbeaten 41 in 128 minutes. After taking his well-documented break early this year, Taylor took time to find his feet again in the limited-overs matches before making an emotional century in the second ODI in Napier. Two of Taylor's eight hundreds have been against England, in Hamilton five years ago and a blazing 154 not out at Manchester a few months later. He averages 48 against them. If New Zealand are to win this test, and therefore, series, they need their best practitioner on song at Eden Park. A third ton against England would be just the ticket.
Tim Southee
66 test wickets @ 37.78, 3 5-fors
A lean series in terms of wickets taken, just one for 216 off 83 overs. Sure, he hasn't been thumped about either. But he would have been at the front of coach Mike Hesson's mind when he spoke this week of the bowlers being off the job when they needed to be right on it on the first morning at the Basin Reserve. His batting needs to produce more, and more conscientiously, than he has, or else he drops down from No8. But with the hope of a pitch more suited to the faster bowlers, Southee can show his talents in conditions which should help. He needs to.
NZ v England
Third test
Eden Park, 10.30am today, live SS1
New Zealand
(from) Brendon McCullum (c), Peter Fulton, Hamish Rutherford, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Dean Brownlie, BJ Watling, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Bruce Martin, Neil Wagner, Trent Boult.
England
(from) Alastair Cook (c), Nick Compton, Jonathan Trott, Ian Bell, Jonny Bairstow, Joe Root, Matt Prior, Stuart Broad, Steven Finn, Chris Woakes, James Anderson, Monty Panesar.
