Mark Richardson: Loss not good enough

Mitchell Johnson continued to dominate our batsmen. Photo / Getty Images

Friday's first Twenty20 international gave us everything we expected and nothing more.

We expected Australia to be a class above the Black Caps and they were; we expected Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes to bowl fast and they did; we expected our batsmen to struggle with the pace of Tait and Nannes and they did; we expected Mitchell Johnson to continue to dominate our batsmen and he did; we expected Shane Watson to play just as well with his mouth as with bat and ball and he did; and we might just have expected Billy Bowden to have one of those moments and for that 'whoopsy' to favour Australia. He did.

There were a few other things we probably hoped for rather than expected and we got them too. Shane Bond bowled fast and continued his happy knack of picking up Australian wickets; and Daniel Vettori continued earning respect against Australia.

If Bond and Vettori had not shown they still have an upper hand over the Aussies, then the night would have been highly depressing. We needed, at the very least, hope from this game and those two gave us something to hold onto for the rest of the series.

Other positives included a continuation of James Franklin's development from bowler to batsman and a glimpse of why Gareth Hopkins is in the team. However, the bottom line is the Black Caps were totally out-muscled.

I wasn't totally despondent with the score. It was great to have the big boys in town and a ground full of atmosphere. I experienced a few of the old feelings I used to get as a player when I was out doing the toss.

It felt like an occasion and it was. But that feeling has the grace of one game and, if there is not an improvement tonight in Christchurch, then our enthusiasm for visiting quality cricketers will turn to negativity directed at our lack of quality.

So can the Black Caps improve? They must and, yes, I believe they can.

They were shell-shocked from the first over on Friday but will be more familiar with the challenge tonight. I can't say they were caught unawares because they would have expected what they got but they certainly were not ready for it.

I hope I am wrong but right now I doubt the Black Caps have the goods to take a series from Australia. They know they will be judged on this series but a pass mark should not be a series win.

A pass mark should be games that are competitive and a couple of wins in the ODIs too. The fans and pundits need to be realistic about this series but not overly accommodating. Friday was not good enough.

I'll take a loss if I have to but I won't take another hiding.