Editorial: Fortune favours the resolute

John Maslin

How quickly fortunes can change on the cricket field.

After returning home from an arduous - and losing - tour of India, New Zealand's Black Caps have seen off Pakistan with 2-0 test series whitewash, culminating in a pulsating win at Hamilton on Tuesday.

It marks an impressive turnaround after the team was overpowered by India in a three test series. The Indians didn't have all their way in the five-match one-day series that followed with Kane Williamson's crew winning two of those matches. But it was a losing tour nonetheless.

And while India has been imperious at the top of the test rankings, Pakistan is no slouch and was placed a couple of spots above the Kiwis. However, results in this latest tour will see the Black Caps ladder ranking in the ascendancy.

The selectors took a punt and made changes in the team line-up but a test clean-sweep came down to more than just seeing some new names on the scoreboard. It's one thing to select players; it's another to see them make such influential contributions to the cause.

Opener Jeet Ravan and all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme had memorable debuts - Raval with the bat and de Grandhomme with both bat and ball.

This series was Heaven for cricketing "tragics". NZ has played 12 consecutive test series against Pakistan without a win. The last time it won a series against Pakistan was in 1984-85. Mind you the Black Caps effort was helped by an embarrassing batting collapse at Seddon Park which saw the visitors lose 10 wickets for a paltry 99 runs after the openers had put on 131.

Even allowing for the fact the Kiwis were playing in their backyard, it wasn't the sole reason for the remarkable about face in terms of results. These wins were borne of outstanding contrubitions from all 11 on the field where players showed both skill, and maturity. Importantly they were results that showed this team is a resolute bunch bearing a fighting streak.

We could be in for an exciting summer.