KEY POINTS:
I cannot recall being more desperate for the Black Caps to beat Australia as I was on Friday and as I will be this evening.
My stance on Ricky Ponting being rested is that it smacked of arrogance; it is understandable but reeks of unwarranted arrogance. Thus the necessity to put them in their place.
It is not the first time Australia has rested players for the Chappell-Hadlee Series and not the first time we have upset them. However, the situation is different now as far as Australia is concerned.
Two series ago, when Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist were rested for Chappell-Hadlee games, Australia had ample cover and still could have reasonably expected to win. As it happened New Zealand played out of their skins to take the series 3-0 in this country.
That instance should have served notice to Australia that, even in times of strength, it can be a gamble to rest key players, let alone i a situation that could only be described as dire for Australia.
The Australian cricket team is a shadow of its former self and to rest their key man in Ponting says one of two things. They are either still in arrogant denial or simply do not care for the Chappell-Hadlee trophy and, to them, this series is nothing more than practice on the road to more important matters.
If the latter, then I can understand that. They have a huge return series coming up in South Africa. They still hold the ICC test ranking number one spot but only by a thread. A loss in the republic would see them toppled. In a busy and exhausting schedule full of pressure, you can understand the desire to give their captain and best player a breather.
If that is the case, then I hope our boys don't do them any favours by allowing the Australian selectors to answer questions they may be asking of their team. Keep them guessing as to which of the new boys are up to international standard; keep the thumb on the incumbents and key players; and keep creating doubt amongst their unit.
Ponting can enjoy his break but I'd like him to return to a team in worse shape than when he left it. This is the only way New Zealand cricket can add value to its treasured and important annual transtasman clash. Then, when we have the series in the bag, remind them that we too played with an under-strength team.
As for last Friday in particular, I liked what I saw. I thought it wise to bowl first because a struggling team often fails to find the right tempo when setting a total.
Even though Michael Clark and Mike Hussey found some form, they played as if the total team performance was riding on their shoulders, clearly showed no faith in those around them, played overly conservatively and thus left unscored runs in the bank.
It was a controlled display by us and, importantly, a win with plenty still left in our tank.
