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Brendon McCullum celebrates his century. - Source: Photosport
The Black Caps' Twenty20 World Cup exit may have been heartbreaking, but the purists would conclude they did not deserve a semi-final place anyway.
If teams were rightly rewarded a point each from drawn matches, they'd have finished third in the Super Eights group with two points to the West Indies' three.
Instead they finished a winless last - thanks to the One-over elimintator gimmick that couldn't have less to do with cricket and more to do with TV audiences - when they were a single lusty blow away from finishing second.
A record of one win from five games hardly signifies a successful campaign, but in truth a Super Eights exit was the pre-tournament outcome most observers had predicted.
Rob Nicol. 4 matches, 105 runs at 26.3, SR 119
Started well with 58 and 33 against Pakistan and Sri Lanka but went
missing in the two must-win matches. Part-time off spin was perhaps
underutilised.
Grade: B
Martin Guptill. 4 matches, 75 runs at 18.8, SR 97.
The imperious and swashbuckling Guptill of last summer has only
made sporadic appearances over the New Zealand winter. Top scored
with 38 against the Windies but cleared the rope only once all
tournament.
Grade: B-
Brendon McCullum. 5 matches, 212 runs at 42.4, SR
159.
Sizzled in the opening game with a world record 123, then fizzled
with just 89 runs in his next four digs, but still comfortably
topped the run charts despite ongoing debate over his best
position.
Grade: A-
Ross Taylor. 5 matches, 147 runs at 49, SR 146.
Taylor's refusal to bat any higher than 4 restricted him to cameo
innings. The exception came in a stirring captain's knock of 62 not
out against the Windies, in which he came agonisingly close to
dragging the team into the semis himself.
Grade: A-
James Franklin. 5 matches, 120 runs at 30, SR 128. 3 wickets
at 17.7, economy rate 8.8.
Franklin's industrious 50 against England saved the side from total
embarrassment. Showed versatility in the batting order and chipped
in with some expensive wickets.
Grade: B
Kane Williamson. 4 matches, 36 runs at 12, SR 90.
Twenty20 just isn't a good fit for the youngster, who doesn't
seem to know his role - and neither it seems does the captain. Not
even sighted at the bowling crease.
Grade: C
Jacob Oram. 4 matches, 23 runs at 7.7. 5 wickets at 24.2, ER
9.7.
All the experience in the world can't atone for the fact that it's
been a very long time since Oram made a major contribution with
either bat or ball.
Grade: C
Daniel Vettori. 4 matches, 18 runs at 18, SR 113. 2 wickets
at 51.5, ER 6.4.
Scored 18 as a pinch-hitter against Pakistan in his only turn
at-bat. Wickets were again hard to come by but he was typically
frugal and bowled his full complement in each appearance.
Grade: B
Nathan McCullum. 5 matches, 29 runs at 9.7, SR 116. 4 wickets
26, ER 6.1.
In tandem with Vettori the Otago man consistently dried up the
runs, but struggled for breakthroughs in a tournament dominated by
wicket-taking quicks. Little chance to impress with the bat.
Grade: A-
Kyle Mills. 5 matches, 4 wicket at 32.8, ER 8.2
Not always at his metronomic best, as reflected in his high economy
rate. Apart from a tight opening spell against England, this wasn't
a vintage series and he struggled for wickets against the big
nations.
Grade: C
Tim Southee. 5 matches, 8 wickets at 18, ER 8.
Continues to impress in this format, though the economy rate could
still come down a bit. Was a constant threat against Pakistan and
the Windies (again snaring Chris Gayle) but was far better handled
by England and Sri Lanka.
Grade: A
Doug Bracewell. 2 matches, 4 wickets at 9.8, ER
8.1.
Dougy, where the bloody hell were ya? Not sighted until the
penultimate over of New Zealand's penultimate game, Bracewell
promptly took a wicket and added three more against the Windies,
for an average of a wicket every seven balls.
Grade: A
Ronnie Hira. 1 match, 1 wicket at 24, ER 6.
Like Bracewell, his only real chance to impress came against the
West Indies and he held the middle overs together well with a tidy
spell.
Grade: A-
Adam Milne. 1 match, no wickets for 12 runs, ER 12.
The ultimate cameo appearance, conceding 12 in his only over of the
tournament against Pakistan.
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