Cricket: Summer a mix of the good, bad and ugly

Shane Bond remains a key asset for New Zealand. Photo / Mark Mitchell

So another international summer is done with - nine wins, seven losses and a draw from 17 matches against three opponents.

A curate's egg of a campaign for sure, some good bits, some average, some poor.

What did we learn from the visits of Pakistan, Bangladesh and Australia?

That there are problems at the top of the order - and settling on the most competitive and viable top six - and, more latterly, with the new ball bowling. Nothing new in that.

When they sit down to do their season assessments, New Zealand's management will conclude the national side remains solidly competitive, if a shade inconsistent, in the shorter forms of the game, but still well outside the top echelon when it comes to the five-day version. Nothing new in that either.

Lows followed highs, which was dispiriting.

Break the three legs down and we know Pakistan are about New Zealand's level in test cricket; Bangladesh are getting better but New Zealand should still comfortably have their measure for the time being; and Australia, certainly in the test form, are substantially superior, if not in the Twenty20 and ODI games.

The international summer began with ...

A bright dawn

Remember the first test against Pakistan at Dunedin back in November. A sunlit final afternoon and New Zealand, on the back of spirited work from the fast-medium trio Shane Bond, Chris Martin and Iain O'Brien got the hosts up for a 32-run win.

It was a fine win, albeit with some less-than-convincing batting second time round. As the summer wore on, just how much New Zealand would miss Bond and O'Brien in tests became clear.

Bond remains a key limited-overs figure; O'Brien, who stunned teammates by suddenly retiring after the third Pakistan test, walked away when he had become an integral part of the attack. How hard did New Zealand Cricket try to persuade him to stay on? He insisted it was a personal decision to shift to England. End of story.

Season low?

As Australia wiped New Zealand out in the two tests last month, it was easy to forget the second Pakistan test at Wellington. That should still sit as perhaps the season low, a wretched batting display - 99 all out in 36.5 overs. No excuses, it was rubbish batting and undid so much good from a week before.

The decider at Napier would most likely have been won (90 for none chasing 208) but for late-afternoon rain. Australia then whipped Pakistan 3-0. A pointer to the relative merits of the three teams?

But Bangladesh gave New Zealand a chance to fill their boots?

It seemed that way as the tourists, with no leadup matches, battled through the ODIs.

However the test was a different story.

Yes, the record book shows a 121-run win and the victory wasdone well. Martin Guptill andBrendon McCullum set a sixth-wicket test record stand of 339 but Bangladesh's batting had some bite and New Zealand's bowlers were punished for their waywardness.

Alarm bells should have been ringing.

And the main course of the summer?

After a routine dusting in the opening Twenty20 from the Aussies, the next two games belatedly set the summer alight.

Tim Southee came of age with cool-headed death bowling in the Christchurch tie, which was won in the eliminator over. That was after McCullum's sizzling 116 not out, just the second Twenty20 century, laden with acrobatic ramp shots which should increase dental bills round the country.

Then followed the dramatic ODI win at Napier, and Scott Styris and Mitchell Johnson's nose to nose square-off. Styris marked his return in style, securing the win then belligerently roaring, "Take that, you Australian chaps," at the finale.

So it was hey ho, we're off and away?

Well, no. The second ODI at Eden Park was the big lost opportunity and the Aussies nailed the Chappell Hadlee Trophy before New Zealand's consolation win in the fifth game.

New Zealand had their moments in the two tests, notably in dismissing Australia for 231 in the first innings at Hamilton. But they wasted a great chance by only ekeing out a 33-run lead. As a rule, Australia don't give opponents a second chance. So it proved.

Players of the summer?

Ross Taylor, 54.4 average from 11 innings, was, in Jesse Ryder's absence the key batsman. McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Guptill and Dan Vettori had their moments with the bat too.

Tim Southee, once he sharpens his consistency, is the new ball future, which leaves ...

The questionmarks?

McIntosh (average 31 over 12 innings) and BJ Watling are still a work in progress as the opening pair.

The return of Ryder and fine tuning the top six is a priority. Vettori at No 8 means a more balanced side. Kane Williamson is not far away, but where to bat him?

Does Mathew Sinclair get another chance in Bangladesh in five months' time? Someone has to bat No 3. Williamson? Sinclair? Or a wildcard move, such as Aaron Redmond recalled to open, and Watling dropping a spot? Martin's 16 wickets at 47.9 - and one for 260 against the Aussies, when he looked flat - was disappointing.

The point is, find a better new ball bowler to replace him.

Short of fast forwarding Otago's Neil Wagner's citizenship it's a head scratcher. Two left-armers to watch: Auckland's bustling Michael Bates, MVP over the domestic season, and Central Districts' oft-injured but well-regarded Mitchell McClenaghan.

INTERNATIONAL SEASON

TESTS
Played 6, won 2, lost 3, drew 1

ODI
Played 8, won 5, lost 3

TWENTY20
Played 3, won 2, lost 1