Youwouldn't have noticed it given the lacklustre summer we've had but yes the summer of cricket in New Zealand will end at the conclusion of the 3rd test in Wellington.
It has been quite an eventful cricket season in New Zealand. But here are some of the highlights of the season.
Rookie of the summer: Dean Brownlie was quite a find in the middle order and it was a shame when he got injured halfway through the season. Tarun Nethula looks dangerous as our first genuine legspinner in years but it's surely gotta be Doug Bracewell for find of the summer. Bracewell has emerged as possibly the best of a whole host of young pace bowlers with his performance in Hobart against the Australians the highlight of what should be a tremendous career for the son of former international, Brendon Bracewell.
Find of the summer: Daniel Flynn as a viable opening batsman. I never thought I would say this but about the former number 5 batsman but he appears to have the technique to take on the fresh new ball and also has the courage to play some big shots as evident with the way he played Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander, two of the best fast bowlers in the world at the moment.
Comeback of the summer: Mark Gillespie. From nursing an injured toe and looking for a job to getting 11 wickets in 2 tests. I didn't give him a chance either but Mark, you've proved me wrong and might force Boult and Southee to work on their technique and pace to match the performance levels the 33 year old is showing - what is it with New Zealand and 30-year-old plus fast bowlers? It's a bit like our props and hookers.
Best player of the summer: Martin Guptill, the most consistent and prolific batsman in the New Zealand lineup. Originally considered a specialist of the shorter forms of the game, Guptill has improved leaps and bounds to the point that he is a defacto selection at the top of the order in the test team. Now he just needs a partner to support him to build a decent start for New Zealand.
Performance of the summer: Doug Bracewell's 9 wickets v Australia in Hobart to help New Zealand win its first test in Australia since the halycon days of Sir Richard Hadlee.
Farewell of the summer: Michael Mason's 41 off 19 balls to seal a quite miraculous victory for Central Districts in the Ford Trophy final. Granted it was Pukekura Park, a ground which the MCG would swallow 10 times over, and where sixes were landing in the zoo over the hill, but still it was pretty impressive for a player who has always been regarded as a rabbit with the bat. A brilliant way for the former New Zealand fast bowler to finish a fine career.
Prospects for the winter: A tour of the West Indies to come in July and August - I can't believe they still haven't announced the fixtures for this tour but yes this is the Caribbean. Daniel Flynn's development as an opening batsman.
Catch of the summer: Michael Mason off Bevan Small's athletic fielding in a HRV Twenty20 Cup game between Northern and Central Districts at Mount Maunganui.
Century of the summer: There was only one against South Africa for the New Zealanders but it came at just the right time and was exactly what the doctor ordered. Kane Williamson's dogged but determined 102 not out on the final day of the final test of the summer saved the test for New Zealand and was highly credible against a South African fast bowling attack that had been dominant all summer and had scared the other Kiwi batsmen in the test. It was the sort of performance that Williamson's talent had promised for so long and was what we hope will be the first of many.
Tourist of the summer: Zimbabwe's captain, Brendan Taylor stood out in the limited overs forms of the game while his young bowler, Kyle Jarvis was actually quite impressive - a Shane Bond lookalike too. South Africa's Vernon Philander could be South Africa's version of Glenn McGrath or a better version of Daryl Tuffey. However, the most impressive tourist of the summer was the big, lanky fast bowler, Morne Morkel who stood out in all forms of the game. People expected Dale Steyn to be the danger man for South Africa -which might have helped Morkel in a way as he bagged wickets in the green and white tops. In the last test against New Zealand, he was the only bowler who posed any threat to the New Zealanders.
NOTES: Domestic champions:
HRV Cup - Auckland Aces
Ford Trophy - Central Stags
Plunket Shield - Northern Districts
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