On paper NZ's batting is probably the best in the world, and NZ's bowling is beginning to look promising again, but the side's solidly mid-table. It's an uncomfortable place to be: no matter how irritating the saying can be, "NZ punch above our weight" was often true, and in very many ways it was better like that than promise unfulfilled as we're currently witnessing. Everything apart from our batting and bowling has gone kaput, and those problems are insidiously creeping into the main disciplines as well. Leadership is questionable (bOuNcErZ), selection is bad, team morale is struggling, and at least what you can compliment players fueling this decline in attitude Latham and Southee on, unlike others, is their catching (at least, most of the time).
This is especially true when it matters. Whenever there's a shift in momentum away from NZ, it generally lasts for a fair while before GP fixes it up. The strengths of the Stead attitude – which IMO does deserve credit in spurring that brief but glorious golden age – have withered to dust. Please **** off more than ever, Gary.
Or maybe, just maybe, everything will go right again, in tandem, linked inextricably, as is the way, and we'll give India a fight and destroy England and SL. For one final honeymoon in the sun. But that will be because we have a good side that despite Stead finds its way to a lucky peak out of a long long trough, rather than anything else.
