The 2012 edition was not like the tours of old with large baying crowds, hostile bouncers, forceful stroke play and a cloud of ‘ganga smoke wafting through the stand, but it’s a Kiwi side in the West Indies – two of my favourite things in cricket.
With one victory and eight losses from nine international fixtures across all three formats, the tour results would rank amongst the worst in recent history – they’d rival many of New Zealand’s early international disasters. The Black Caps appear to have gone backwards in the past 18-24 months - whilst I don't envy the task ahead for Mike Hesson, surely things can't get any worse? The key is that the players start to learn from results like this. While defeat should never to accepted, or even tolerated, it is far more palatable if players learn the lessons and ensure the manner of the losses is not repeated again.
Part 1: Early doors on tour
- Coloured clothing in Florida
- Preparation and practise
- KSW - heir apparent?
- The ambulance doesn't wait at the bottom of the cliff - it follows the Black Caps
Part 2: There's no "I" in team. Or is there?
- Is the potential tag becoming a noose?
- Henry returns. And dominates!
- A new Sun is rising
- Four Kiwi 'keepers
- The Roadrunner leads from the front
Part 3: Issues, opportunities and an Olympic pause
- Hiding behind a night watchman
- Start converting; converting starts
- All in a spin about nothing?
- Trent Boult
- There is sport outside of cricket
NZ season review 2011/12
New Zealand’s domestic summer is over – next stop is the Windies in the Caribbean. Before we move on to reggae, rum and Caribbean cool it’s apt we look back at the home summer.
The 2011/12 season has been a roller-coaster, though the elation of the highs never quite matched the depression of the lows. Lessons were plentiful but in the spirit of cricket (don’t get me started) I’ve summarised the season in eleven points – they’re not necessarily the stuff of statistical genius but cricket is still about more than just the numbers.
Part 1: Opening up at the top of the order
- Test openers are specialists
- 'Potential' tags have a use-by date
- 1st class cricket is a 2nd class citizen
- Domestic T20 holds the balance of power
- Fans turn quicker than Vettori
- Schizophrenic selection policies
- Heir apparent found for Wads
- Kiwis want an international leg spinner
- Consistently inconsistent (read: frustrating)
- Let Doug Bracewell develop at test level
- Vintners want a Chris Martin vintage
- Boutique is beautiful
