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The Black Caps celebrate their win over Zimbabwe. - Source: Photosport -
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Rob Nicol. 3 matches, 207 runs at 69, strike rate 102.
Jesse Ryder's return to the top of the order may not quite be
pre-ordained just yet after Nicol staked his claim for an extended
run as an opener. A slow and sensible starter, he burst into life
both in Whangarei and Napier to lay the foundation for 350-plus
scores. Also finished as the series' joint-top wicket taker with
his probing off-spinners, thanks mainly to a career-best 4-19 in
Dunedin where Zimbabwe's aggresive batsman just couldn't get near
him.
Grade: A
Martin Guptill. 3 matches, 232 runs at 77.3, SR
108.
It's wonderful to see a New Zealand batsman in such a prodigious
vein of form and scoring so consistently. Guptill is simply a
colossus at the crease at the moment; whether he's leaning back to
hammer a pull shot onto the roof or striding out to send a
half-volley sailing back over the sightscreen. Loses a mark though
for failing to convert any of his three fifties into hundreds: when
you're in this sort of form, you have to make the most of it.
Grade: A
Jacob Oram. 2 matches, 84 runs at 42, SR 162. 3 wickets at
15.3, ER 3.3.
By no means an automatic selections for this series, the oldest
member of the squad rolled back the years to ensure that he will be
for the rest of the summer. Used as a pinch hitter in the final two
games, Oram carried on the openers' good work by striking some
massive blows of his own. Less of a surprise was his unerring
medium pace bowling, which these days is a valuable enough asset on
its own to secure his place in the XI.|
Grade: A
Brendon McCullum. 3 matches, 142 runs at 47.3, SR
130.
Made up for the stark disappointment of missing out on his home
ground in Dunedin by scoring a superbly-paced 119 in Napier. It was
a welcome return to a finishing role that McCullum filled so well
in tandem with the likes of Oram and Craig McMillan five or six
years ago. Handed an easy first full series as captain, McCullum
hardly missed a beat, setting adventurous but calculated fields and
rotating his bowlers well. A general as ever behind the
stumps.
Grade: A-
Kane Williamson. 3 matches, 77 runs at 25.7, SR 76. 3 wickets
at 9.7, ER 4.8.
A series of cameos for the youngster - as more of a worker and
stroker of the ball, he was never likely to have the same impact as
his big-hitting colleagues. Steadied the ship in Dunedin after the
loss of two early wickets but then perished at an inopportune
moment and was out again in the 30s in Whangarei as he tried to up
the ante with his captain. Collected the two lower order wickets in
Napier to boost his bowling average.
Grade: B
Dean Brownlie. 2 matches, 21 runs at 21, SR 70.
Played a peripheral role in the first two matches before breaking a
bone in his finger while fielding in Napier. Looked like setting up
a big finish to the innings before being needlessly run out in
Dunedin. Will likely miss the South African ODI series through
injury, and given the successful start to his Test career, it must
be tempting for the selectors to allow Brownlie to develop that
part of his game exclusively.
Grade: B
Tom Latham. 3 matches, 79 runs at 39.5, SR 123.
After a nervous start in Dunedin, the teenager seemed perfectly at
home within the New Zealand set up. Struck some glorious blows
during the final overs assault in Whangarei, while his second-ball
six onto the roof in the final game would've made father Rod proud.
May not be deemed ready for the challenge of South Africa but
certainly did his long term Black Caps prospects no harm.
Grade: A-
Nathan McCullum. 2 matches, 51 runs at 25.5, SR 104. 2
wickets at 20, ER 5.0.
Another middle order player reduced to later overs cameos. McCullum
made a steadying 30 in Dunedin before playing a horrible shot which
ultimately led to his team being bowled out inside the 50 overs. In
Napier, he took full toll of some awful death bowling to crack 21
off seven balls. Didn't play a huge role with the ball but is an
efficient operator in all disciplines of the game and should see
more game time against the Proteas.
Grade: B
Andrew Ellis. 3 matches, 45 runs at 22.5, SR 122. 1 wicket at
88, ER 4.2.
Another newbie who looked assured making the (albeit slight) step
up to the international arena. Ellis made a very composed
run-a-ball 33 in Dunedin in his only real chance to impress with
the bat. A solitary wicket failed to reflect some probing and
accurate spells with the ball. Tidy both in the infield and out, he
was rewarded with a call-up to the Twenty20 squad in the absence of
Dean Brownlie.|
Grade: B
Tarun Nethula. 2 matches, 2 wicket at 48, ER 4.8.
A contrasting debut series for Nethula: after a nervous debut in
Whangarei, he found his feet and bowled a superb spell in Napier.
The sight of Zimbabwe's batsmen prodding helplessly at his
leg-spinners became almost comical as he scooped 2-41. Great to see
a leggie playing for New Zealand turning it plenty as well; now all
eyes turn to Ronnie Hira to see if he can impress during the
Twenty20s.
Grade: B
Doug Bracewell. 2 matches, 2 wickets at 29.5, ER
3.7.
Surprisingly, this was as much a series for the spinners as the
fast bowlers but Bracewell still impressed; taking an excellent
caught and bowled in Dunedin and bowling tidily again in Napier.
Again showed his ability to move the ball in the air and off the
seam and at good pace - far too hot for the tourists to
handle.
Grade: B
Kyle Mills. 2 matches, 5 wickets at 10.6, ER 3.3
Clearly New Zealand's best-performed fast bowler, Mills just keeps
getting the job done at limited overs level. Knocked the stuffing
out of Zimbabwe's briefly-promising run chase in Dunedin and took
two more wickets as the hosts strolled to victory in Whangarei as
ever.
Grade: A
Tim Southee. 2 matches, one wicket at 77, ER 4.3.
Bowled a bit better than those figures suggest, but keen observers
of the game seem to agree there's something not quite right with
Southee at the moment. Whether it's a fault in his action or
fatigue from being over-bowled, he lacked the usual spark in his
two outings here; surprising given one of them was in front of his
home crowd in Whangarei.
Grade: C
Michael Bates. 1 match, 1 wicket at 24, ER 3.0.
A touch unlucky in that he was the only squad member to only get
one chance, and it came in a dead rubber. Bates shared the new ball
with Doug Bracewell and kept all Zimbabwe's batsmen quiet, but
didn't get the opportunity to show off his real talent as a cool
and accurate death bowler.
Grade: B
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