KEY POINTS:
In a curious way, New Zealand might have found it easier to pick themselves up had they lost their penultimate ODI against England at Napier this week.
Having to fight through a gruelling day, in which 680 runs were scored, in which they did terrifically well to come
within a single run of victory and wrapping up the series, they will have found the letdown tough.
If they had been chasing 241, not 341, and finished tied, that would have been less demanding. But the strain of pushing right to the edge of a substantial target, and not achieving the goal is mentally draining.
Having done so well, New Zealand had got themselves into a position they should have won it. It was theirs to lose, and while they didn't, it was certainly the next worst result.
The New Zealand players will be hard on themselves. There's a temptation to say it was top-class entertainment, which it was, and we shouldn't be too critical. Yes, up to a point. But they are in this to win games and will feel dejected.
That said, I'm confident they will pick themselves up. Their batsmen can take strong form on to what should be a good batting strip in Christchurch tonight, most notably Jamie How.
His maiden ODI century was a memorable innings and it won't have come as a surprise to those who have watched him over the past 15 months.
This was no Eureka! moment. This has been coming. Given the context it might prove the outstanding innings of his career, but he proved he's got what it takes. His target now is securing a test spot and he's going about it the right way.
England are improving. Knowing they can't win the series will hurt, but remember how poor they were in the first two ODIs. The tourists have come a long way from the days when New Zealand players were openly talking about the prospect of a clean sweep. They'll take a lot out of the Napier game.
Did the New Zealand players involved in Wednesday night's IPL auction in Mumbai get distracted? I doubt it but it certainly did not turn out the way most expected.
The liking for so many quick, young players at the expense of established specialists slightly surprised me, although my pick is they are looking at getting good value over the three-year term of the initial contracts. If you wonder what sort of shape might, say, Glenn McGrath be in two years from now, you can understand franchise thinking.
It also surprised the world's leading batsman, Ricky Ponting, that he fetched several hundred thousand dollars less than a number of far less talented cricketers. He looked less than impressed on television after the auction.
Allrounders ruled the auction. Players like Kumar Sangakkara, Jacques Kallis and New Zealand's Jacob Oram and Brendon McCullum, who have two strings to their bow, were in demand. The wicketkeepers who pulled big money are all high-quality batsmen.
You can understand Indian players picking up a decent price, with their crowd-pulling appeal to the local audiences.
I wondered if the New Zealand and Australian players who went for high figures, even though they won't be around for much of the inaugural competition, might be used as pawns in a transfer market after the first year. Franchises will be eyeing a capital profit. Time will tell.
But take the mind back 10 years and it is mind-boggling to consider New Zealand cricketers earning close to seven figures per annum for playing cricket. The demand is there, and the players lucky enough to be in their prime now, and in the next few years, are reaping significant benefits.
