Cricket: Big-hitters do more than notch up the centuries

Captain Brendon McCullum (right) celebrates after scoring his double century against Pakistan in Sharjah last month. Photo / Getty Images

One factor that has been largely overlooked when analysing the state of New Zealand's test game is their unprecedented century-making power.

The team who walked off the field at Sharjah were the proud owners of 42 test centuries. While that may not sound like a monster total when you consider that Sachin Tendulkar (51) and Jacques Kallis (45) scored more on their lonesome, it is almost certainly the most a New Zealand XI has held at one time.

This is more important than number-crunching for the sake of it. Centuries, particularly big ones, are important pieces of collateral. It is on the back of these that Mark Craig and Ish Sodhi have been allowed to learn their craft in relatively low-pressure circumstances.

It is the reason Brendon McCullum can set attacking fields for Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Neil Wagner, long after the time when normally third slip becomes third man.

Big centuries mean big totals and big totals mean well-rested bowlers delivering to attacking fields. It means less grumpy, reactive captains when the opposition batsmen start to press.

The accepted theory was that bowlers win you tests and batsmen save them. Only partially true. Batsmen give bowlers opportunities to win tests.

So is this the best batting lineup New Zealand has ever carried into a test? Almost certainly not.

Williamson and Taylor will probably end up breaking Crowe's records for centuries. Taylor is already fractionally above Crowe's 45 average, but neither yet possesses his authority in all conditions.

McCullum has already sailed past Crowe's aggregate and is unquestionably the best "batsman" part of the wicketkeeper-batsmen New Zealand has produced, but as a batsman alone he is a luxury item - the way he bats means an epic failure is as likely as an epic innings. Tom Latham has had a great start to his opening career, but it is too soon to make conclusive statements as to his suitability to the role. It wasn't long ago that Hamish Rutherford was the bright future, and he is now on the outside looking in. BJ Watling will continue to make important runs and the Corey Anderson-Jimmy Neesham punch gives New Zealand a left-handed hitter in the middle order.

But we must put a caveat on the 42 centuries. That total was boosted significantly by Daniel Vettori's return, which in all likelihood was a one-off.

Still, New Zealand are in a rich vein of century-making form. It may not be the be-all and end-all of test cricket, but it certainly helps.

Tons of runs

2014 v Pakistan, Sharjah

42 centuries*

Ross Taylor 12

Brendon McCullum 10

Kane Williamson 8

Daniel Vettori 6

BJ Watling 3

Tom Latham 2

Corey Anderson 1

1993 v Australia, Eden Park
39 centuries
Martin Crowe 15
John Wright 12
Andrew Jones 6
Ken Rutherford 3
Mark Greatbatch 3

2004 v England, Nottingham
36 centuries
Nathan Astle 9
Stephen Fleming 7
Craig McMillan 6
Chris Cairns 5
Scott Styris 4
Mark Richardson 4
Jacob Oram 1
*century totals at time of test, not career