-
Brendon McCullum admires his work with the bat - Source: Photosport
A Napier shower on the final afternoon of the third and deciding Test against Pakistan robbed the Black Caps of any significant series scalps in 2009.
However, it was off-field events that dominated headlines in a turbulent year for New Zealand cricket.
The most dramatic turn of events saw a player revolt against their coach Andy Moles. Moles had taken on one of the most unrewarding roles in New Zealand sport just 11 months prior and his record, while not spectacular, was no worse than his predecessor, John Bracewell.
Although the Englishman failed to register a single Test win - four draws, three losses - he did oversee New Zealand maintaining its proud limited over record with the Black Caps winning eight one day internationals (and losing nine), while in the Twenty20 format, his charges churned out an impressive seven win-one tie-four loss record.
Ironically Moles' departure coincided with the Black Caps having just qualified for the Champions Trophy final against Australia, a feat New Zealand cricket teams have seldom achieved at major tournaments. Nevertheless, senior Black Caps were said to be unhappy with Moles' passive output and he left soon after without so much of a whimper.
However, his departure only created a greater burden for New Zealand cricket's most influential player. As the Black Caps enter the New Year Daniel Vettori has the most hectic resume in world cricket: the captain is now coach, selector, strike bowler and match saving batsman, and two months on from the bitter break-up, New Zealand Cricket is no closer to finding a solution.
Candidates appear as thin as New Zealand's top order batting resources and while the Black Caps are currently presenting a united front - this situation surely can't go on too much longer.
Twelve months prior the Black Caps' 2009 campaign began against two of the world's mega powers.
Proud record
The annual Chappell-Hadlee series, this time across the ditch, saw the Black Caps maintain their proud record in the trans-Tasman series.
Since its inception in 2005, New Zealand has competed gallantly against the world's one day champions for a seven win-seven loss record. So it was no surprise when the Black Caps and their Australian rivals shared the 2009 episode 2-2, only rain in the final match in Brisbane preventing the visitors from snaring the trophy for a second time.
Next on the agenda was the might of the sub-continent as the growing power of India visited New Zealand for a full tour.
This was possibly the last time New Zealand cricket fans would see one of the modern day greats, world cricket's all time leading Test and ODI scorer Sachin Tendulkar on these shores, and he and his contemporaries didn't disappoint.
Although the Black Caps surprised with a 2-0 win in the bash and giggle Twenty20 series, MS Dhoni's men soon affirmed their ascendancy with a comprehensive 3-1 demolition in the one-day series.
The true gulf between the two teams, as expected, was exposed in the three-match Test series where the Indians dominated for a 1-0 series win.
Later in the year, after a Test series victory against Sri Lanka, India would climb on top of the Test rankings for the very first time. The Black Caps however are rooted to seventh position on ICC ladder, behind Pakistan and only ahead of the West Indies and Bangladesh.
In other Test series in 2009 New Zealand were given a harsh lesson by the Sri Lankan's in 2-0 away series defeat and it was only at the end of the year, with Moles long gone, that New Zealand tasted Test victory against the visiting Pakistani's in Dunedin. That three match Test series was eventually shared 1-1.
Limited over success
It was in the limited over formats though that the Black Caps continued to punch above their weight.
The second edition of the T20 World Cup in England saw the New Zealand team qualify for the semi-finals before going down to the eventual champions Pakistan and in the bi-annual Champions Trophy in South Africa the Black Caps powered all the way to the final, before being beaten by Australia.
The Black Caps finished the year as the fourth ranked ODI team, behind South Africa and ahead of England.
The big elephant in the room remains the woes of the New Zealand top-order batting. Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill and Daniel Flynn have collectively failed to protect New Zealand's middle order from the new ball in their young Test careers.
The first 50-run opening stand of the year was only achieved in the final Test of 2009 in Napier where McIntosh and debutant BJ Watling combined for two partnerships of relative substance.
Unbelievably, New Zealand cricket hasn't seen a 100 opening stand since Mark Richardson and Stephen Fleming achieved the feat against England in 2004.
The middle-lower order remains New Zealand's batting strength in the longer version of the game and has frequently been the saviour of some dismal top-order efforts.
Ross Taylor, after just 22 Test, has taken on the mantle as New Zealand's senior Test batsman at the tender age of 25. In 2009 he hit two Test centuries and averaged a tick over 55 to finish the year as the world's 10th ranked Test batsman.
Jesse Ryder's prodigious talents on the other hand continue to be hampered by both injury and ill-discipline. His majestic double century against India in Napier was compounded by him smashing his bat in disgust just after his dismissal.
A similar indicant resurfaced in the Champions Trophy against Sri Lanka and now a nagging groin injury has him unavailable from all forms of cricket. However Ryder, averaging 49 in his 11-Test career, will be rushed back into the squad for the one-off Test match against Bangladesh in the New Year, probably at the expense of Flynn.
Brendon McCullum's year was far from smooth sailing either as he faced increasing pressure to retain his opening spot in the limited over formats. He eventually silenced his critics by hitting a ODI hundred against Pakistan in the UAE that inspired New Zealand to a rare 2-1 away series win.
McCullum's leadership credentials also came under fire in the Indian Premier League as his Kolkata Knightriders finished last and missed the semi-finals for the second year in a row. It was a far cry from McCullum's pyrotechnics in the inaugural rich T20 tournament, where he set the concept alight with a vintage display of power hitting in the very first game, and now, the New Zealand cricket wicketkeeper has relinquished himself from the duties for the 2010 edition.
Big year for Vettori
His New Zealand skipper in Vettori though can look back at 2009 with a great sense of personal satisfaction. Despite an unprecedented workload the inspirational captain celebrated becoming just the second New Zealander to register the Test 300-wicket-3000-run double.
He also struck three Test centuries in 2009 at a tick under 60 and saw his batting average creep over the 30 threshold to underscore his all-round status in the game. However, his left-arm orthodox bowling in the longer version of the game is becoming increasingly defensive and his average for 2009 of 39, with not one five-wicket haul, is testament to the fact.
And despite all his heroics, Vettori's leadership, particularly in Test cricket, has become gradually more negative and if the Black Caps are to climb up the world rankings - this mindset will need to change.
The greatest coup for New Zealand cricket in 2009 saw Vettori regain the services of Shane Bond and Darryl Tuffey from international exile. The two bowlers were finally cleared by the ICC, after having played in the now defunct Indian Cricket League, to once again be available for the Black Caps.
Bond's return to the Test fold was decisive as he took eight wickets in a man of the match performance in the only Test win of the year but, unfortunately, his comeback was derailed by an abdominal injury that saw him miss the rest of the Pakistani series.
His shocking luck was Tuffey's gain as the tall medium fast bowler made the most of his reintroduction to Test cricket by taking eight wickets in two Tests, at 27.75, against Pakistan and then backed that up by hitting a scarcely believable unbeaten 80 in Napier.
Chris Martin continues to spearhead the Test attack but at 35 years of age his best days are behind him, while Iain O'Brien's shock retirement came when he was just beginning to hit his straps.
O'Brien finished his Test career with 73 wickets from 22 Tests at an average of 33.27, but it was his dedication to the cause and unbridled energy that made him such a valuable member of the Test line-up.
Jacob Oram, too, was a Black Cap that cut short his international career after retiring from Test cricket this year. The big-hitting all-rounder will continue to play the limited over formats for New Zealand and in the IPL for the Chennai Super Kings.
Kyle Mills played only one Test match in 2009, against India in Napier, and is very much considered a one-day specialist these days. His outstanding form at the Champions Trophy saw the medium quick bowler briefly ranked as the number one bowler in the world in the one-day format, an honour that Vettori would later end the year with.
Like Mills, Grant Elliot has become a one-day specialist despite ample opportunity in the Test arena. Elliot averages over 40 in the ODI format yet in Test cricket he has only managed 86 runs from five Tests.
In contrast, Tim Southee and Jeetan Patel have had limited chances in 2009, but with the retirement of O'Brien and doubts lingering over Bond and Martin's longevity, their time is nigh.
Indeed one or both of them should come into the calculations for the one off Test against Bangladesh in February but for most New Zealand cricket fans, thoughts are already centred on the highly anticipated Australian series in March.
Whether the Black Caps will have a replacement for Moles by then is anyone's guess but, coach or no coach, this represents New Zealand's best chance to snare a Test win off the old foe since 1994.
As the West Indies proved in their just completed three Test series - these Aussies are very beatable. New Zealand's top order batting and the availability of Bond will remain key - but with Christmas here the Black Caps can dare to dream.
