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KEY POINTS:
The Black Caps punched way above their weight in the one day series against Australia which represents a vote of confidence for our domestic competition.
It is the weakest and most inexperienced New Zealand side in living memory and given the number of injuries sustained and being carried, the results have been exceptional.
This is typical of New Zealand one day sides.
No one ever gives them a chance but they are very good at home and travel okay which means they have maintained a ranking from two to four for about a decade.
This squad appears to be cut from the same cloth. They are a team of no names as witnessed by a Channel Nine commentary team which has got virtually no idea who some of them are.
To be so competitive is an excellent result. Batting-wise, Martin Guptill, Neil Broom and Grant Elliott have performed beyond expectations and if you throw in what Jesse Ryder did prior to that, then a very healthy pattern is emerging.
Despite widespread reservations about our domestic competition, players are making an immediate adjustment to international level which in turn will be giving the selectors confidence in pushing other players forward. It is a really big plus and an unexpected one.
Revelations that Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke and teammate Simon Katich had a physical altercation in the dressing rooms after the victory over South Africa in Sydney have put the kaibosh on Clarke's immediate captaincy aspirations.
I saw quite a lot of episodes over the years where guys had really strong, major disagreements in the dressing rooms but I never saw anyone lay a hand on another.
Clarke's desire to scarper early to hang out with his girlfriend, before the scheduled singing of the team song, will have got up the senior players' noses in a major way.
It shows that Clarke's main priority is not always the Australian team, and I reckon it means Ponting will survive a bit longer as captain than he would have.
It takes some doing, getting bowled out for 51 in test cricket. England managed it against the West Indies, which is even worse because the Windies are now the bottom feeders in test cricket. You have to play really badly and get unlucky to register a total that low. The Windies normally give up 20 to 30 extras alone in an innings.
