Play nzherald.co.nz's rugby Pick the Score competition - go to: pickthescore.nzherald.co.nz
KEY POINTS:
New Zealand will rest up and feel their one-day game is in good shape ahead of India's arrival this week.
They fly home today having squared the Chappell Hadlee series and, if not gaining a moral victory in the rain-ruined no result decider in Brisbane on Friday night,
at least knowing they had a win within their grasp when it was abandoned.
As captain Daniel Vettori was fond of saying, no one would have given New Zealand tuppence before the series started for their chances of sitting 2-2 going into the fifth game.
It was a major disappointment for New Zealand, who, through a brilliant hand by Martin Guptill and a bold, sensible contribution from debutant Brendon Diamanti, had the winning of the series.
Diamanti was the latest in a series of players finding their feet at ODI level this summer.
Guptill is a classic example, so too hard-working seamer Iain O'Brien. Neil Broom should have done better overall but looks an asset as a batting hitter, as opposed to a bowler who can slog, for the last 10 overs.
Now Diamanti has put his hand up to go into the long-term mix.
"I'm happy these guys keep turning up and performing," Vettori said. "You throw the likes of Scott Styris, Jesse Ryder and Jacob Oram to come back into the mix, then we've got a nice group of 15-16 [to choose from]."
When they arrive home the players have a few days off before the start of the Indian tour: two Twenty20 internationals at Christchurch and Wellington on February 25 and 27 followed by five ODIs and three tests.
The last time India came out six years ago they were hopeless, having no idea how to handle pitches the colour of outfields. They were walloped 2-0 in the tests, and 5-2 in the ODIs.
This Indian team, despite their reputation as ordinary tourists, are guaranteed to entertain.
"You look at the individual players and some of the world's best are coming," Vettori said.
"Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Virenda Sehwag batting on the little grounds in New Zealand is pretty scary, but you balance that with them being notorious for not touring New Zealand all that well.
"It's going to be huge backing up after Australia, but hopefully we can take confidence into the series."
So how does the Australian trip stack up? Four positives, four disappointments...
Positives:
1: The outcome. Okay, from 2-0 up they should have won the series before Brisbane. Sydney was their big chance but the bowlers misplaced the plot they had scripted so tightly in Perth and Melbourne. Still, New Zealand will take 2-2 in Australia and figure it a pretty decent result.
2: The development of Grant Elliott. His was the decisive contribution to the Melbourne win, with 61 not out, then followed up with a fine 115 off 124 balls at Sydney. His medium-pace bowling was handy, too. He appeals as a cool-headed type, which New Zealand need when chasing demanding targets.
3: Iain O'Brien taking his opportunity. The Wellington seamer had played only one ODI before the tour but finished top wicket taker on either side with 10 at 25.3 each.
He had a poor finish in Sydney when Mike Hussey climbed in, and was pricey in the final overs at Brisbane. But he ran in hard, got wickets and generally bowled smartly.
4: Martin Guptill's innings at Brisbane. The young Auckland batsman hit an unbeaten 122 on ODI debut against the West Indies last month.
He took his time getting his bearings in the first four games in Australia before unleashing his shot-making abilities at the Gabba. His 64 not out off just 34 balls was a stellar hand, clean, powerful hitting with conventional cricket strokes.
Disappointments:
1: The outcome. Australian captain Ricky Ponting reckoned one wicket would have turned the game decisively his team's way. Maybe. But had that wicket not been Guptill, you'd think the win was heading New Zealand's way.
2: Vettori's bowling. Tight during New Zealand's two wins, he was not at his best when Australia took the decisive step and went out boldly at Sydney, making 301 for nine. They attacked the New Zealand bowlers rather than let them call the tune.
In Australia's wins, Vettori's one wicket from 20 overs cost 106. Australia had a plan to prevent the left-arm spinner getting wickets. He finished with two for 187 in the series.
3: The Sydney loss. Forget Adelaide. Australia won that decisively, bowling well and having the Hussey brothers get them home with a century stand. Sydney - Vettori sent Australia in when he probably should have batted on a good pitch and a hot afternoon - was the one that got away, even if Elliott and Brendon McCullum gave the Aussies a late fright.
4: The batting in Brisbane. Guptill and Diamanti almost got New Zealand the win, but the Black Caps' batting didn't really deserve it.
Granted they had a policy of putting the foot down with rain about all day and threatening again, but some of the shots were brainless. Five wickets fell in 28 balls. It could have been an embarrassing finale.
