Opinion - The Black Caps' summer of cricket ended with a memorable escape act, capping off a season of great highs and forgettable lows, writes Jamie Wall.
Photo: RNZ
Was that the best possible end to a summer of cricket? The Black Caps pulled off a memorable escape act at Hagley Oval on Tuesday against England, securing a draw and series win in dramatic fashion.
It's been a long season of cricket, especially when you consider the West Indies showed up only a week after the All Blacks had finished up their season.
But it hasn't all gone the Black Caps' way over the past four months on the cricket fields of Aotearoa. Here's a look at the highs and lows:
Colin Munro in action in the third T20 against the West Indies. Photo: PhotoSport
* Colin Munro's power hitting - never has a man's anger been so smoothly transitioned into an ability to hit a cricket ball. Munro blasted everyone that came at him into all parts of the ground, becoming the first man to score three T20 centuries and just missing out on five consecutive half-centuries.
West Indies captain Jason Holder hits the ball into the air and is caught out as New Zealand's wicketkeeper Tom Latham (L) looks on. Photo: AFP / Marty MELVILLE
* The once mighty Windies lived up to their expectations - because they were lower than Chris Martin's batting average. They duly set about getting crushed in the two Test matches to start the tour, then the Black Caps compounded the misery by trouncing them in three one-dayers and another two T20s. The only game the Windies managed not to lose was a washed-out T20, but it's probably safe to say they would've lost that too.
Ben Wheeler Photo: PhotoSport
* Ben Wheeler's shocker of a bowling spell - 0-64 is bad reading in any form of the game, but it's much, much worse when it only comes off 19 legitimate deliveries. The Aussies plundered the young fast bowler so badly he got the jitters in his last over of the Tri Series final, sending down two consecutive no balls and being removed from the crease by the umpire.
Kane Williamson celebrates his 18th test century. Photo: Photosport
* Kane Williamson breaks Martin Crowe's record - the diminutive skipper showed his class in a controlled 102 on Eden Park in the first Test against the English, ensuring his place in history as NZ's most prolific century-maker with 18.
Ish Sodhi and Neil Wagner hug after holding out against England. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
* A draw is better than a win, at least for cricket purists - There's nothing like the dramatic draw in the second Test against England to give us ample opportunity to pontificate about how great a sporting contest that lasts five days and no one wins is.
Pakistan's Mohammad Amir celebrates during the second T20 match against the Black Caps after claiming the wicket of Colin Munro. Photo: Photosport NZ
* The Pakistani fightback - After being wiped 5-0 in the one day series and then finding themselves down 1-0 in the T20's, Pakistan rallied to win the format that they're currently world champions in. It was seriously impressive stuff, all done under the often sociopathic captaincy of wicketkeeper/batsman Safraz Ahmed.
Black Cap Ross Taylor goes down hurt during his 181* in the fourth ODI against England. Photo: PhotoSport
* Ross Taylor's 181* - The greatest innings of the summer, and probably ever in a Black Caps ODI shirt. Taylor's heroics single-handedly won the Dunedin match against England, and he did it all while being so badly injured he could barely run between wickets.
Australian batsman Glenn Maxwell. Photo: Photosport
* Aussies crush us in the tri series - Hubris is never a good idea, especially when the general talk before this series was how this may be the greatest Black Caps side ever. The Aussies responded in the most soul-crushing way, barely breaking a sweat in the series opener in Sydney. The final at Eden Park was another one-sided affair, the one consolation being that it's unlikely anyone will be remembering that result when they think of Australian cricket right now.
Photo: PhotoSport
* Boult and Southee roll the English for 58 - The pink ball Test action was supposed to take place under a pink sky, but the English test side managed to capitulate well before that happened on day one. The two pacemen managed to do the entire job without needing any help, with Boult picking up man of the match for his nine-wicket haul.
New Zealand cricketers celebrate a series win over England 2018. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
* Having praise heaped on us for being the good guys of cricket - While they beat us on the field, Australia's much publicised ball-tampering scandal once again provided the Black Caps with another kind of victory. The carefully prepared image of the Black Caps being the team that plays cricket 'the right way' was held up in the immediate aftermath of #Sandpapergate, which even Australian pundits said was an example their disgraced side could learn from. Just to rub it in, the combination of the Black Caps' series victory and the Aussies getting massacred by South Africa has meant we've overtaken them in the ICC test rankings.
