Just for openers, let's try to hang around
Jamie Alter
25-Feb-2013
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A 60-run opening stand between New Zealand's latest opening pair of Tim McIntosh and BJ Watling, on debut, was the highest since the former joined the team over a year ago, or more specifically 17 innings. Obviously it's too early to tell if this is the beginning of a new era of Wright & Edgar-style authority, says Andrew Alderson in the Herald on Sunday.
Before the third test, the opening pair had failed to last more than 11 balls. This leads to a more devastating statistic that compounds on the remainder of the team. In the 16 innings prior to this one, New Zealand has got through the first eight overs just four times, the maximum being 12.1, before losing a wicket.
Any cricketer knows - and particularly first-drop batsmen - that this is barely enough to significantly tarnish the gold lettering on a brand new cherry. As a result, New Zealand's middle order batsmen also have to develop opening skills, rather than displaying their talents against a less venomous leather missile.
Alderson also went searching for answers to why Ross Taylor the only New Zealand top-order batsman with any consistent authority over the Pakistan bowlers, and found a balanced, maturing individual.
Working up a storm, Alderson spoke to three former New Zealand players about the future of the country's fast-bowling stakes and found some uncomfortable issues. Danny Morrison wants more swing; John Bracewell wants more pace; Mark Greatbatch is saying "don't panic, help is on the way" - but New Zealand's pace bowling may be headed into some experimental and possibly lean years.
In the same paper, Mark Richardson says a lack of truly fast bowlers on the domestic circuit is hurting New Zealand's development.
Ironically, the problem of late has been as a result of an improvement in provincial playing conditions. Better playing surfaces dominate and medium pace seam bowlers are not testing batsmen's techniques as they once did.
Jamie Alter is a senior sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo