Time to rejoice for

Black Caps’ defeat of Pakistan adds another chapter to outstanding era but England will

New Zealand cricket fans should rejoice in the dominance of their men’s side. Regardless of the West Indies and Pakistan’s relative merits, the Black Caps have beaten everyone put in front of them this summer.

They have added another chapter to what has become an outstanding era. Expectations on the current team are higher than almost all periods outside the Sir Richard Hadleeinspired 1980s.

The concern is that the margins of victory have generated apathy to a point that, now the Pakistan oneday international series is a 3-0 dead rubber, the focus will turn to Eng- land’s arrival next month. Only then — and to a certain extent through the T20 tri-series with England and Australia — will we get a true gauge of New Zealand’s ability.

This season’s success begs the question whether the pressure on the Black Caps to win is within touching distance of the All Blacks.

That school of thought needs a few more years to percolate. More regular victories, particularly in tests home and away against Australia, India, South Africa and England, would be required.

However, you would not need to look far into the annals to find fans relieved when New Zealand teams simply competed with dignity.

The fourth one-day international of New Zealand’s five-match series against Pakistan — aka the Champions Trophy winners — tomorrow night has the hosts on the precipice of a record 11-match winning streak across all formats.

The victory in Dunedin was their 10th in succession, equalling the best sequence in the side’s history. The first was solely made up of ODIs, spanning the final win over Pakistan in January 2015 to the World Cup semifinal victory over South Africa; the second was across all formats from the 2016 Boxing Day ODI win over Bangladesh until they secured the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy against Australia in February.

The fact each of those tenures have come within the past three years is no coincidence.

History will reflect favourably on the Mike Hesson-coaching era.

It has showcased some of the finest players this country has produced, such as Trent Boult, Martin Guptill (in white ball matches), Brendon McCullum, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson.

Even Daniel Vettori kept the retirement door ajar so he could roll the arm over with the new generation leading to the 2015 World Cup.

Those names will inevitably fea-