Disappointing Cup defence highlights inconsistency woes

It's one thing to win a title, it's a completely different thing to defend it.

Stephen Fleming's TelstraClear Black Caps found that out in no uncertain manner in Colombo yesterday.

Their 164-run loss was an embarrassing start to a highly-significant summer for the New Zealand one-day game.

Next year's World Cup in South Africa is quite likely to be the last chance for several members of this side to attempt to win the Cup, and a good deal of time, effort and money has gone into preparing the side.

Since the re-structuring of New Zealand Cricket the emphasis has been on achieving consistency in Test and one-day play. This result is not indicative of any advance being made.

Notwithstanding the fact it is without key players in Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan and Andre Adams, the facts are that the elements of putting up a competitive chase still seem to elude the side.

Even while the wickets were falling so rapidly at the start of the innings, the only semblance of anyone trying to put down an anchor was Mathew Sinclair, and even that was an all-too brief effort.

This sort of rapid collapse is not new to New Zealand one-day play, and even if the cause was lost very early in the piece it should not be too much to expect a show of resistance to start much higher in the order than Nos 9 and 11.

That's to take nothing away from some fine Australian bowling.

But when has anything different been expected of this outstanding cricket machine?

Surely New Zealand knew what to expect? Even moreso after the humiliations New Zealand inflicted on Australia last year.

Some will trot out the lack of preparation as an excuse.

But there can be no excuse and the reality must be that New Zealand's ability to prepare a suitable match plan while playing the game will now need to be concentrated in the remaining Champions Trophy match against Bangladesh and the seven matches available in the home series against India.

That is, of course, if New Zealand's summer weather holds up.

The degree of difficulty in World Cup aspirations just got significantly higher.

While the spirit shown in a last-ditch half-century stand between Kyle Mills and Shane Bond was admirable, the only real obvious positive to come out of the game was the seeming return of left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori to something like the vitality of his early days with a superb bowling performance.

There was a vigour to his short bowling stint that has been lacking while he has battled with his back problems. That offers some encouragement for the season ahead, although the real test will come in the Test match arena.

The match itself produced a minefield of reminders of just how much work this side has in front of it before it can claim a much higher degree of consistency in its achievement levels.

Some points to ponder:

The 164-run margin is New Zealand's worst against Australia, beating the 150-run loss at Christchurch in 1989/90.

It is the second highest loss by New Zealand in all One-Day Internationals by runs - the worst is 174 runs against India at Hyderabad in 1999/00.

The win was Australia's third highest by a runs margin against all-comers.

Australia's 296/7 was the second successive match in which New Zealand has conceded more than 290 in an innings.

It was the fifth highest total conceded by New Zealand to Australia, and it was the 14th highest total conceded by New Zealand against all-comers.

The 26.2 overs was New Zealand's second shortest complete innings in uninterrupted ODIs. The 94 in 25.2 overs, also against Australia, at Christchurch in 1989/90 remains the shortest. And it was the fourth shortest innings against all-comers in ODIs.

Mills and Bond achieved the highest 10th wicket partnership by any country against Australia with their 50-stand. New Zealand's best had been 33 by Chris Harris and Shayne O'Connor at Melbourne in 1997/98.

It bettered the unbroken 43 achieved by Angus Fraser and Phil Tufnell for England at Melbourne in 1990/91.

It was the second highest 10th wicket stand for New Zealand against all-comers. Only Martin Snedden and Ewen Chatfield have done better with their 65 against Sri Lanka at Derby in 1983.

Sadly for New Zealand it was the highest partnership of the innings, 27 by Sinclair and Scott Styris being the next highest, while it was also the longest partnership of the innings, 45 as opposed to 37 balls for Sinclair and Styris.

When New Zealand were 82/9 after 19 overs they were staring at both their lowest total and first double figure score in 259 ODIs since 1989/90.

They were looking at their largest loss in ODIs which would have made a twin pair after the record Test loss to Pakistan earlier this year.

It could have been the second shortest complete innings by any team in ODIs, as the worst is the 15.3 overs by Zimbabwe when scoring 38 against Sri Lanka in 2001/02.

Vettori's one for 25 from 10 overs was his third most economical bowling figures behind his three for 21 against Sri Lanka at Napier in 2000/01 and his two for 21 against Pakistan at Auckland in the same season.

Kyle Mills 23 not out was his highest score in ODIs and headed his 18 not out against Sri Lanka, also at Colombo in his previous ODI innings in which an unbroken 32-run stand with Daryl Tuffey saved New Zealand from another double figure innings, albeit in a 36-over match.

Bond's 26 bettered the 19 not out he scored against the West Indies in Kingston earlier this year.

He now has 78 runs at 19.50.

Despite mostly playing No 11 so far his average is better than five of his team-mates - Styris (19.16), Jacob Oram (14.57), Mills (12.50), Vettori (10.48) and Tuffey (8.90).

v Australia (3rd ODI at Wellington, 1981/82)

A full house, a series decider but a dog of a pitch and New Zealand all out for 74. At that time it was New Zealand's lowest score and the pain of defeat was numbing.

v Australia (2nd World Series Cup Final at Melbourne, 1982/83)

This game was saved from complete Kiwi ignominy by Lance Cairns' six sixes, but it can't hide the fact that Australia scored 302/8 and won by 149 runs.

v Pakistan (Austral-Asia Cup Semi Final at Sharjah, 1985/86)

This was a semi-final but New Zealand suffered their lowest ODI score of 64 with only Evan Gray achieving double figures. Leggie Abdul Qadir took four for nine off 10 overs!

v Australia (Rothmans Cup at Christchurch, 1989/90)

Dean Jones and David Boon undid New Zealand's bowling and then Simon O'Donnell took five for 13, including 'that ball' to dismiss John Bracewell for a 150-run loss.

v Pakistan (Austral-Asia Cup Semi Final at Sharjah, 1989/90)

Having scored 338/4 against hapless Bangladesh in their previous game, New Zealand were completely undone for 74 runs by a new bowler by the name of Waqar Younis who took five for 20. Pakistan rattled off the runs in 15.4 overs.

v Zimbabwe (3rd ODI at Christchurch, 1997/98)

This is a beauty. Zimbabwe 228/7 after 50. New Zealand 104/0 after 15 overs but 227/9 after 50. Dirk Viljoen (Dirk who?) two for 31 off 10 overs.

v Australia (Commonwealth Games Semi Final at Kuala Lumpur, 1998)

All out for 58 in 26.4 overs and Brad Young four for four off four overs, including a hat-trick and Australia did it in 10.5 overs. Not recognised as an official One-Day International.

v South Africa (5th ODI at Auckland, 1998/99)

With the series tied up, Daryll Cullinan scored 94 runs off 56 balls, as South Africa totalled 290/5 and New Zealand were all out for 147 in a weak response.

v India (2nd ODI at Hyderabad, 1999/00)

India's Sachin Tendulker and Rahul Dravid boosted their averages and strike rates by adding a world record 331 runs together as India reached 376/2. Will Chris Drum ever forget nine overs that went for 85?

v Australia (ICC Champions Trophy at Colombo, 2002/03)

Poor bowling was hammered and poor batting was crucified. Poor fielding made the humiliation complete.