Six more matches to go. The build-up to the Cricket World Cup is almost as fascinating as the tournament itself. The requirement to announce a team so far in advance has led to scrutiny of the make-up of the Black Caps rarely seen before.
The searchlight beam has already focused on five of the 15-strong squad already chosen: Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Grant Elliott, Adam Milne and Kyle Mills.
Firstly, it has to be said the New Zealand cricket team deserve huge plaudits for the way they have performed of late. Three names with hands on the rudder can enjoy special recognition: Brendon McCullum, coach Mike Hesson and selector Bruce Edgar.
McCullum's extraordinary returns with the bat have cast him as a mature player of talent and, finally, application. Some think his career has peaked with his 2014-15 year. It may be just beginning ...
The most enjoyable part of watching the Black Caps these days has been the jettisoning of the dreadful 'that's-the-way-we-play' syndrome. In past years, McCullum has come under attack for being too cavalier, a dasher without a defensive thought in his head and damn the consequences; a cricketer, like many, perceived to be modern mercenaries for whom an IPL contract was the Holy Grail. If he (and others who got out rashly) failed because of an injudicious shot, we'd hear, 'well, that's the way we play'.
That's all gone now. Responsibility has not just been taken but embraced. McCullum's 117 against Sri Lanka in Hamilton came off 99 balls but included some careful defence, a professional regard for the situation and channelling of that immense talent. It was more impressive, in its way, than some of his blitzkrieg.
Hesson can take some of the credit and all of us who bleated at the toppling of Ross Taylor as skipper can now admit he got it right. It might have been handled worse than Tiger Woods managed his marriage (sleeping with multiple women not called Elin, driving into a fire hydrant chased by a golf-club-wielding wife, a US$750 million divorce and a ruined career) -- but clearly got the right result, advancing McCullum to a new level.
Hesson and McCullum are also responsible for the new team ethic. The players use words like "legacy" and "all about the team" and mean it.
Edgar, with Hesson, has provided stability, choosing the right players and backing them. Edgar has fronted up to the media as he used to play the game -- solidly, squarely, imperturbably; all characteristics that have also rubbed off on the team.
For the first time in ages, there are question marks about selections after naming the squad more than a month ahead of the tournament and rotating players in the seven-match series against Sri Lanka and the two ODIs against Pakistan. The five players mentioned above have all come under review even before yesterday's third ODI.
Guptill showed flashes of form yesterday. He is talented and worth perserverance. Mills, injured at present, is copping a lot of stick for being too old and slow but is a wily bowler, good at the death, full of movement prompting the mis-hit. Elliott was a canny selection, I felt at the time. He is a worker as a batsman -- keeping the runs coming by placement rather than power and able to hold an end up. His bowling is of the dibbly-dobbly sort that does well in New Zealand conditions.
Unfortunately, his rusty showing in his return match and absence for personal reasons in the last two has raised big doubts for many. But he has a calm nature and a big-match temperament.
Prediction: those three will come right -- leaving the jury's main consideration the two young guys, Latham and Milne. Latham did better yesterday with his 42 but still looks like a test player struggling to adapt to ODIs. In his previous seven, from December 8 to last weekend, (five against Pakistan, two against Sri Lanka), he scored 106 runs at an average of 21.20 -- and that with two not outs. More worryingly, he has batted at an average strike rate of only 79, hardly what's required for a key middle-order spot.
Jimmy Neesham, perhaps the more talented bat with his languid style and grace, has obviously been typecast as a test player so far but may have been the smarter choice for this tournament. Latham is also back-up wicketkeeper.
Milne is undeniably quick, young and full of vigour. He is also a straight up-and-down bowler. Matt Henry does more with the ball and is a more accomplished hitter.
Milne may not be intended for the front line right now anyway and class acts like Sangakkara, Tillekaratne and Jayawardene demonstrate that top batsmen are not bothered by pace alone. That's the fascination of this World Cup build-up -- have the selectors got it right?
By Paul Lewis of the Herald on Sunday
