THERE can rarely have been a Test series where it has proved prudent and effective to ask the opposition to bat first in every match, for it takes a strong willed captain with almost suicidal tendencies to take such a gamble. But this series in New Zealand has provided the perfect scenario. The irony is that on the one pitch, at Wellington, that proved a definite insertion job New Zealand's Lee Germon was neither feeling strong or particularly suicidal and he chose, quite wrongly, to bat first.
Mike Atherton, on the other hand, could justifiably have felt like taking his own life after the Zimbabwe fiasco, and on winning the toss twice in the series, at Auckland and yesterday in Christchurch, he chose to bowl first on both occasions.
That may seem curious to those that feel that on winning the toss nine times out of 10 you bat first and on the 10th you may think about bowling - but then bat anyway - but in New Zealand no lesser scholars of the game than Glenn Turner and Jeremy Coney, both past New Zealand captains, feel that more often than not bowling first is a justifiable option, chiefly because all New Zealand wickets begin with a good covering of grass, are slightly damp and never break up as the game wears on. Consequently, the team's best chance of taking wickets is early in the game. That rule does not necessarily apply worldwide.
England's bowling in the first Test at Eden Park was not only poor but had the effect of almost betraying the captain and his confidence in the bowlers. By choosing four seamers and asking them to bowl on a damp green pitch Atherton had delivered the perfect gift to his team. At Auckland they tossed it away.
How different then, at Wellington, when with no such burden of expectation and New Zealand having chosen to bat first, and for the first time for ages with a balanced attack of three seamers and two spinners, the quicker bowlers delivered and routed New Zealand for 124 in the first innings. And then with capable batting and a thoroughly professional second innings bowling and fielding performance the Test was won, confidence restored. England had found a winning combination of bowlers.
Darren Gough has been the star, always willing, ever cheerful and now bowling with the pace and fire he first showed in Australia two years ago. He may not beta model of accuracy but he has an explosiveness that his captain adores. Around him steadiness is a must and, curiously, the two bowlers in the squad most capable of providing that have had to struggle and fight for their places this winter.
Andy Caddick proved in Wellington what a fine line and length, aggressive seamer he is, and again in Christchurch he was steady without being as incisive as in the previous Test. Robert Croft has been a revelation, displaying all the arts of spin bowling - turn, obviously, but more important and crucial on the green non turning Christchurch pitch, flight and guile, which saw him as England's most effective bowler, and all on a seamers' day.
Dominic Cork has been a disappointment: he seems quite at odds with himself, uneasy in his run up and delivery and lacking the sound strategy of consistent line and length, so much so that he was fortunate to keep his captain's confidence and be given the second new ball yesterday.
After Wellington, where the bowling had come good through evolution, a little luck, and sound selection, expectation was high at Lancaster Park, and this time the bowlers did not throw away the advantage but neither did they capitalise to the full. This England bowling attack will come good, but they must learn to put the pressure on the opposition's batsmen and not on themselves.
. New Zealand scored 85 runs but lost three wickets in the prelunch session. Resuming at 229 for five, New Zealand went to lunch at 314 for eight, with Daniel Vettori on nine and Heath Davis on one.
Earlier, overnight pair Adam Parore and Chris Cairns shared a valuable 82 run stand for the sixth wicket, with both players completing half centuries.
