Mark Richardson: Few reasons to celebrate this season

New Zealand seem unable to win without Shane Bond. Photo / Getty Images

So the domestic season is coming to a close in Hamilton and there could be something spectacular and season-defining over the next four days, given yesterday's form.

Barring that, we have learned a few things about our national team. Let's start with a positive. We know we are still better than Bangladesh.

Which is great but it hasn't exactly solved anything.

It was an interesting three-test series against Pakistan which ended one-all.

The Black Caps won the test in which Shane Bond played. Injury ruled him out from that point and that was it for test wins with the exception of Bangladesh - present test excluded.

So can we win without Bond? Probably not.

Bond is still around in the ODI team and his performances with the ball against Australia (outstanding compared to any other New Zealand seamer) show he is crucial to this team's success.

His absence from test matches has shown us our bowling stocks are dreadfully low.

Where are the promising fast bowlers? Nowhere is, unfortunately, the answer. New Zealand first class cricket is littered with bowlers delivering around 130km/h and doing little with the ball.

Having said that, Tim Southee showed again he is one to stick with and his inconsistency is that of youth. Will he get quicker and will he be another Bond/Hadlee?

I believe he will make a very good bowler if part of an effective unit but not a strike bowler on his own.

Dan Vettori had a good day too but I believe his effect as a wicket taker still relies upon the quality of support. Yesterday also showed us that in old-fashioned slow-style wickets we can compete, but how far will that get us?

The nett result of our lack of bowling around the country is that all the old brigade continue to pile the runs on at first-class level. What does that tell us?

It says that the best we have are already playing test cricket and, if they aren't good enough, we have no room to manoeuvre.

It's not all bad news when it comes to our batting. The ODI batting stacks up and, when Jesse Ryder returns, it actually looks quite threatening.

We continue to rely too often on Vettori and Ross Taylor in test matches. Our openers threaten to answer the call but I'm yet to feel totally confident about them.

I cannot help but think going back to Mathew Sinclair instead of trying young Kane Williamson was a shame. But if Sinclair can go on and get a score and stays in the team for a while (two years minimum); and if they can talk Scott Styris back; then there is a batting list of note.

This season has reconfirmed Vettori, Brendon McCullum, Bond and Taylor consistently make the grade and that the rest still have a way to go.

The most worrying thing is that when we have a hole our selectors are reduced to taking a punt; or going back to the future due to a domestic game that does little to prepare or uncover international-quality players.