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The post Shane Bond era has started smoothly with New Zealand's new ball attack revelling in their new found test cricket responsibilities.
The reputations of Chris Martin and Kyle Mills have been enhanced - temporarily at least - by their crucial wicket taking spells during New Zealand's 189-run defeat of England at Seddon Park on Sunday.
England, realising Bond had retired from test cricket and was otherwise engaged in Hampshire and the India Cricket League, arrived here late January relatively unconcerned about the quality of seam bowling they were about to encounter.
After all Martin and Mills had been comfortably seen off in England four years ago when the home side swept the series 3-0.
Bond was invalided out of that tour and this time around his replacements are forming a more than useful combination, at least against an England batting line-up that twice failed to make an impression on Seddon Park.
Routed for 110 in their second innings on Sunday, England succumbed to a duo uncharitably described before the match by visiting media as `pie throwers' worthy only of representing the Ilford second 11.
Mills took a career best four for 16 and Martin three for 33, figures both took immense satisfaction and confidence from ahead of tomorrow's second test at the Basin Reserve.
"It's progressing quite nicely," senior strike bowler Martin said of their partnership.
"Kyle bowled an exceptional opening spell with the new ball and I think I came back well with the old ball.
"I'm stoked for Kyle in that last game - he earned his stripes," Martin said.
"He's been a guy who's come in and out of the test side through injury and now he's pretty much cemented a good spot opening the bowling."
Mills, who made his debut at Trent Bridge on New Zealand last tour of England, has only played 10 tests in the next four years as injuries reduced his involvement.
The 28 year-old was actually being groomed for international cricket before former policeman Bond emerged out of the blue in 2001 but a succession of injuries saw him slip back in the pecking order behind the likes of Ian Butler.
Mills, a right arm swing bowler seen not long ago as a limited overs specialist, is now an automatic choice to spearhead the attack with Martin, 33.
Martin, meanwhile, saw his career deviate in the opposite direction after making his one-day debut against Zimbabwe in Taupo in 2001.
He made seven appearances that summer before his economy rate and ineffectual batting saw him restricted to a solitary outing against Australia and Sri Lanka in the following six years.
Bond's move to the rebel Twenty20 competition forced a change in the selectors thinking and now the veteran of 38 tests is a fixture in both formats.
Martin has played 10 off the Black Caps last 11 ODIs and was clearly embracing full employment.
"It's always been a little bit difficult for me coming in and out of the environment, I actually feel part of the set up now," he said.
"Over the years I've had to watch a lot of New Zealand teams play, I'm quite enjoying playing all the time."
Meanwhile, England's struggling pace bowler Steve Harmison will find out later today if he has been dropped from England's line-up after a limp performance in Hamilton.
Harmison, a notoriously poor traveller, is up to 20kph down on his optimum pace and took only one for 121 from 27 overs.
The 29-year-old made a decent fist of a net trial yesterday but could still miss out to Stuart Broad, who played his first and only test in Sri Lanka last December.
Should Broad be selected the 21 year-old is set for a tough assignment as his junior status will see him toil into Wellington's infamous northerly should it whip up.
- NZPA
