Dylan Cleaver: Press box optimism at a premium

COMMENT


It is an indication of the lack of optimism surrounding this tour that a press colleague, after just one day of the tour match against New South Wales, thought it prudent to book accommodation in Brisbane for just four nights - a sign that he expects an early finish.

Despite the Black Caps doing as much as was asked of them during their begrudging romp through the subcontinent, the case for the doomsayers appears watertight.

Fact one: the Kiwis have lost Daryl Tuffey, the bowler formerly known as Bond and Chris Cairns.

Fact two: the search for an opening partner for Mark Richardson has ended at the door of yet another makeshift option, Mathew Sinclair.

Fact three: Richardson, the batting rock of New Zealand, is struggling for form.

Fact four: skipper Stephen Fleming flew into Sydney yesterday after battling an unspecified, but seemingly debilitating, illness. He will hopefully shed more light on the situation today.

Fact five: there are more wickets in Glenn McGrath than in the entire New Zealand bowling attack.

There's also circumstantial evidence suggesting this might be a particularly one-sided contest, such as the possibility that this could be the finest Australian side ever.

But even the strongest arguments have weaknesses if you look hard enough.

There is a feeling the pitches in Australia have failed to live up to the hype. There is a sameness about them which might play into the Black Caps' hands.

Even the once fearsome Waca has shown a docile side. The SCG wicket has proven to be quite subcontinental and the Gabba shouldn't have claws. Adelaide has always been flat.

So with a bit of application and a line-up stacked with batting, New Zealand might be able to replicate what India did when touring last year, and make themselves very difficult to dismiss twice.

And that may lead to a hotel in Brisbane receiving a panicked call from a correspondent wanting to extend his stay by one night.