Three things we learnt about New Zealand in the test series against Australia
1: The margin in this series, 2-0 to Australia, is misleading.
The gap between the teams is much closer. New Zealand, underprepared, were well done in Brisbane, but from day two in the second match at Perth, were right in the series, competing on level terms. A bad umpiring break cost them dearly in Adelaide but they scrapped hard and almost pulled off a stunning win. Brendon McCullum reckons New Zealand have a royal chance of getting square when the teams meet again in Wellington and Christchurch in February. He has a point. By then they'll be well into the home summer, and have finished with Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The two home tests should be crackers.
2: Mitchell Santner can change the balance of the test team
He can bat at No 6 and, while his spin bowling needs more work, there's potential for four seamers to play, or three and two spinners. Three players need to be on guard - Corey Anderson, Jimmy Neesham and Mark Craig. All are talented cricketers with different strengths, but Santner - and okay it's only on the evidence of one match - looks capable of trumping the three of them in time.
