Mark Richardson: Ton of spine required

Tim MacIntosh. Photo / Greg Bowker

Barring an absolute hiding in test three - if the Black Caps can halt last night's horror slide - the test series has already been a success.

I can stomach a hard-fought loss in day five (if that's what happens instead of what seemed to be a first-innings capitulation) because I feel this Black Caps test team have shown top improvement and a ton of spine. They're going to need to do so again.

Bangladesh was ODIs, so that atonement is yet to come. What I'm really talking about is the way this team have played poorly and shown a general lack of application and skill in test cricket over the past few years.

Last night's horrors might have seemed like a return to those days but, this time in India, they've played with great application and surpassed expectations (last night maybe excepted).

Tim MacIntosh and Brendon McCullum are an opening pair to have confidence in. McCullum answered his critics but more importantly showed he could take his test batting improvement in the middle order to the top of the order.

He likes to answer his critics, so now he has none, the question will be: Can he still motivate himself on a consistent basis?

Kane Williamson has made a great start and should feel he belongs at this level. For a new player, that is important.

Jesse Ryder can play without being the hard-drinking Ryder. I'm not being flippant here either. Relaxation and tuning-out after play is important for dealing with the pressures of international sport. He cannot relax the way he used to but he still appears the same Jesse Ryder at the crease.

The batting has been a major plus until last night but, then again, batting conditions have been very good. Having said that, they still got the runs. More acid tests await in more spritely conditions against quicker bowling but, for now, progress has been made.

The bowling has been good but that nagging little issue about penetration persists. With the exception of that hour of madness from Chris Martin in test one, enough wickets to win a test in batting conditions still looks a pipe-dream.

I will concede these have been mostly benign bowling conditions and expectations must be realistic - but in both tests opportunities were created but not taken.

If this team really want to threaten, they must find a killer punch either with pace or spin.

This pitch seems to offer a little more to the bowlers and our batting unit wasn't handling that well last night. We will see if our bowlers can use more favourable conditions. If so, then I'll take another draw and be happy as Larry.