Former Black Caps give Andrew Alderson their views on the issues coming up for our national cricketers over the next 10 months.
The Black Caps launch their next campaign in July facing four key issues.
Brendon McCullum's role as a wicketkeeper - or not - needs to be established; the team need to solidify the test and Twenty20 batting line-ups; find new pace bowlers; and monitor Daniel Vettori's captaincy workload.
McCullum sparked a fierce debate by suggesting he is likely to step down soon from wicketkeeping in all formats of the game. It disrupts the balance of the side because no other gloveman in the country has his talent with the bat. However, a back injury may snuff out the 28-year-old's career otherwise.
Nathan Astle played plenty of international cricket with McCullum who he says has the skills to be a better test batsman.
"Giving up the keeping should allow him more time to work on his batting. From what I've seen, it's not that he doesn't want to do it but it's more of a physical thing and he's looking for longevity in the game. I think some people have been too quick to judge."
Former New Zealand gloveman and coach Warren Lees agrees. He has known the McCullum family for years.
"Brendon just wants to play cricket and is still arguably the best keeper-batsman in the world. Those skills come to few people which is a shame; there are also probably only three other players in the world who are as innovative with the bat.
"But we don't know how bad his back is. I was surprised coach Mark Greatbatch did not originally know about that.
"We are a weak team and need Brendon keeping to have the balance to beat the best in world."
New Zealand's need of an extra batsman, particularly at test level, has been exposed by several slumps. The tactic of batting time has been suggested as a solution but Astle wonders if that is the right approach.
"I liked [former coach] Steve Rixon's answer: Get runs on the board, be it quickly or slowly. If you bat purely for time, the scoreboard goes nowhere and if you lose a couple of wickets, you get in trouble.
"I think that we are still missing Stephen Fleming. He put his hand up and wanted to continue playing tests as a player but that was cut short. The result is that an experienced guy's knowledge is gone."
The Twenty20 batting was not that great either; as shown by the dismissal for 81 in Florida and no Black Cap getting over 44 in a World T20 innings.
Says Lees: "It was dreadful. The pitches weren't great but we got ourselves out."
Former paceman Danny Morrison was also riled, knowing how much pressure such a lack of runs puts on bowler morale.
"I think more onus needs to go on McCullum, [Ross] Taylor and [Jesse] Ryder as a core group of senior batsmen who have a responsibility to perform. There was a glaring lack of runs in the Caribbean and it wasn't good enough."
The pace bowling stocks are limited, so an unprecedented test series victory in India is a big ask in November. Morrison says he's seen some talent coming through but the scene is bleak.
"It's time young guys stepped up because big Daryl [Tuffey] and Chris [Martin] haven't got long left at the top. They're still useful, especially in New Zealand conditions with their pace and bounce, but aren't getting it through at real pace. Brent Arnel is a prospect. He looks like he's modelled himself on Shane Bond with a nice action and small delivery stride.
"I also saw Corey Anderson up close at the Hong Kong Sixes last year, albeit off a shorter run-up. He had a strong, powerful action with a top speed of over 140km/h. Andy McKay gets it through too."
Astle worries Vettori might be unintentionally blighting team spirit by remaining a selector.
"He's capable but deep down, I think it is too much to take on. Being captain means you take on a certain role and while he should definitely have an input, he shouldn't be a selector. You want your team-mates to be able to discuss things. Players won't do that if they think it might hinder their selection."
Lees sees a further danger with Vettori's heavy spin workload.
"If he's a good captain, there's a risk he won't get the most out of himself as a bowler because he'll spend the whole time thinking of others. He might need to be more selfish."
