The shivery feeling that creeps down the spine after a New Zealand test cricket loss - and became a shudder after the 3-0 thrashing by Australia - needed some comforting warmth, some hope of future improvement, as we watched the super-confident Australians romp away from Hamilton last Monday morning.
The New Zealand top-order batting had been an unrelieved disaster. The bowling was serviceable, sometimes aggressive when everyone was used at the right time. The team leadership did not, it must be said, have us on the edge of our seats. Edge of the teeth, more likely.
The team management, too long King Canute trying to turn back the waves of defeat, must have some immediate and decisive plans to improve the players already in the test team, or replace them with others from outside.
The recipe for recovery came from David Trist, team coach, a selector and spokesman.
Trist said the selectors had high hopes that the coming New Zealand A expeditions to Australia, England and India from April to September would thrust forward full New Zealand candidates.
"A" teams often promise more than they achieve. But what chance have those green hopefuls of displacing full New Zealand players required for the Singapore, Zimbabwe, Kenya and South Africa tours from August to December?
And what kind of opposition will New Zealand A face? And where does that leave a player like Matthew Bell, a full test player nine months ago, then dropped but, according to a newspaper report, told by Ross Dykes, chairman of selectors, that he was over-qualified for the A tour?
This may seem typical New Zealand cricket super-theory.
But wait, as they say in the telecommercials, there is more. According to Trist, the New Zealand squad, after five weeks "chilling out," will have their playing techniques examined and (hopefully) improved by using computer programmes.
The players will be debriefed and they will have individual development programmes, fully compu-terised.
The players, said Trist, would gain contact on a daily basis through their own Website. The instructions would not only include skill advancement, but other aspects of personal development.
One just fails to shout "Yippeeee." Here is New Zealand producing the first crop of cyber-champions. Virtual reality in the helmets the next step?
If the New Zealand team management want some reality check on their errant or erratic players, they could talk to some experts in or alongside the Australian side.
Since his early New Zealand days, Stephen Fleming has been liable to flick a catch to just forward of mid-wicket. The Australians say this is because Fleming uses his bat too far ahead of his front pad.
Over the past 12 months Fleming's batting stance has become quite open. His first movement is right foot across. This can get him into a front-foot attacking or defensive line. It severely limits his ability to play back.
These faults became endemic two years ago. The coach of the time, Steve Rixon, either did not notice or did not want to correct the flaws.
Daniel Vettori's growing ability as a tailend batsman will be limited as long as he copies the Fleming open stance.
The Australians rate Adam Parore as a batting technician, perhaps the soundest New Zealander against good quality spin - which Shane Warne only occasionally produced.
They also give themselves a good chance of picking up Parore, his concentration lapsing, as soon as a quick bowler takes over from the spinners.
The Australians like Craig McMillan and his forthright batting style. They also liked the way, even after he was set, that his footwork sometimes became sloppy and he was liable to get an edge outside the off-stump.
Mathew Sinclair, said the Australians, had two main faults - his footwork was not quick or confident, and he was not sure where his off stump was.
They considered Matt Horne a dogged fighter lacking form and confidence.
Craig Spearman seemed a mystery to the Australians, as he was in his early days under Rixon.
Not to worry. Trist will have the New Zealanders poised over their computers during the winter, seeking their cricket salvation through Website wisdom.
Cricket: Cyber-cricketers to guide recovery
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