STAYING STEADY
Kane Williamson & Ross Taylor
Yes, neither of the Black Caps’ premier batsmen had a series to remember, but in terms of long-term projections, their respective failures will matter not one iota to their status in the test team, while any talk of legacy damage or pressure on their positions is overstated. Concerns over Williamson’s workload may grow with a poor Indian series, but he will captain in all three formats until he decides otherwise.
Trent Boult & Lockie Ferguson
Neither got a real chance to perform at the best of their abilities in Australia. Boult missed the pink-ball test in Perth due to injury, came back in Melbourne to remove Joe Burns fourth ball, but then went wicketless the rest of the test and fractured his hand, missing out on the Sydney test. Ferguson’s tour was shorter – invalidated after 11 overs on debut in Perth due to a calf strain. If their recoveries go as projected, both will be in the squad to play India.
Todd Astle
Produced a mixed showing when finally given a chance in Sydney. He took three wickets and looked the most lively of the New Zealand spinners used in the series, but two scalps came against players trying to up the run rate, and he went 33 overs without a maiden as he conceded 3.8 runs an over. However, he also showed promise with the bat, which should keep him at the top of the selectors’ thoughts for the home tests against India, even if his style of bowling may not be perfectly suited to the conditions.
Colin de Grandhomme
Often comes under fire, mainly due to optics and an aggressive style, but still produced the third-most runs and third-most wickets in Australia, and there’s nobody else in New Zealand who can fill his role. There are batsmen who could fare as well – Daryl Mitchell made 73 on debut – but nobody who can come close to offering the bowling threat de Grandhomme offers, as Mitchell also proved when sending down 22 wicketless overs when replacing him in Hamilton. De Grandhomme will be a crucial member of the squad against India.
Main photo: Tom Blundell raises his bat at the end of the match after scoring a century on Day 4 of the second cricket test match.