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Brendon McCullum should have been kicking himself last night.
New Zealand were one wicket away from a largely satisfying opening day of the first test against England at Seddon Park. However, McCullum's dismissal in the second last over of the day left honours even, New Zealand finishing at 282 for six, with Ross Taylor able to quietly celebrate a maiden test half century.
McCullum and Taylor had lifted New Zealand out of a funk in the hour after tea with a bracing stand of 86 and had wrested a small initiative before the wicketkeeper chased a wide ball from the industrious Ryan Sidebottom, to be caught behind having hit 51 in 55 balls.
McCullum had talked before the test about curbing parts of his aggressive batting philosophy. And he did, but you suspect his ODI attitude is never far from the surface, and each ball is viewed as a potential six. He still rattled along at one-day speed. Had he been walking out with Taylor today, New Zealand would have confidently been setting their sights at 400.
They might still make it, but England will feel they got good reward for a day of solid slog on a pitch which lacked pace and bounce.
Removing McCullum ensured England will start with renewed vigour today, they have a second new ball six overs old, and a strong belief that early success on a pitch with no batting terrors could set them up for a strong push over the next two days.
New Zealand should rue lost opportunities yesterday.
Matthew Bell got over-excited by an early rush of boundaries; Stephen Fleming looked as if he was having an open wicket such was the ease of his strokeplay before being caught one-handed at gully by Alastair Cook.
Mathew Sinclair and Jacob Oram missed out, but there was lots to commend opener Jamie How, and Taylor.
How carried on where he left off in the ODI series, but with a different mindset. He made a resolute 92 off 180 balls before edging spinner Monty Panesar low to slip. His innings was a mix of conscientious defence and decisive strokes.
Considering his average from his first six tests was 14, he should have been chuffed. Still, eight more runs would have capped it off.
"At the start of the day, you keep reminding yourself, if someone gave you 90 you'd be happy," How said.
"It still hurts but makes me more hungry for my next innings."
He praised an England attack in which Sidebottom bowled with vim and was consistently demanding and Panesar economical, enthusiastic and full of questions for the batsmen.
Taylor did well to keep his mind on the job after walking into the middle to this ludicrous introduction:
" ... with a highest test score of 17, please welcome ... "
No 11 specialist Chris Martin may have saluted the crowd; a No 5 batsman would have had unpleasant thoughts on the man with the microphone.
In his third test, after a tough first two in South Africa in November, Taylor eschewed his natural attacking instincts and prospered. There was still the occasional thumping drive and he didn't exactly park up on his bat, but it hinted at a growing maturity in his game.
England's day began badly when Ian Bell, fielding under the helmet, copped a vicious hook from Matthew Bell on the fleshy side of his right hand. It is not broken, but will have plenty of ice overnight and a reassessment this morning.
