David Leggat: Wellington victory will cap a stunning summer

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New Zealand can't lose their test series against India, but that's not the philosophy the team will take into the final international of the summer today.

That could carry an implication that an Indian win would simply leave the two-match rubber all square, not with New Zealand in deficit - and therefore a good outcome.

A few weeks ago, it might have been viewed as a good return, but not now, not after the marvellous run of results, and form since the Indians arrived here. Or that playing for, and getting, a draw would be a satisfying achievement.

New Zealand, chasing a fourth straight test win, are now about maintaining a fine run of form and keeping a front-foot mindset.

The absence for family reasons of their best batsman, Ross Taylor, at the Basin Reserve won't help.

It's not the ideal time to be introducing two debutants, but then Tom Latham and Jimmy Neesham are not complete international greenhorns.

Both have played limited-overs internationals, so it's not as if they'll be stepping into completely fresh territory, in either playing or mental terms.

In any case, given the colour and properties of the Basin Reserve pitch, aiming to play five days for a draw would be a real stretch. More than likely this test will be won.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson was briefly bemused this week when asked which team would take the momentum into today. The answer seemed perfectly logical to him.

Senior bowler Tim Southee has spoken of the importance of finishing the season in the manner in which they have gone about their business over the past couple of months.

New Zealand will need to be on guard at the Basin. No one, with the best will towards the home side, foresaw India having such a poor time on their tour. Failure to win this test will leave them heading home empty-handed - with a 0-from-7 international record. Even so, the old line about only being as good as your last result comes to mind.

How will the summer be remembered if India, performing significantly below what their world No2 ranking suggests they should, hit back to win at the Basin?

It should still be seen as a season of considerable achievement, in which New Zealand managed to, at the least, push away grim memories of events earlier last year.

Victory over the coming days would mark it as one of the best campaigns in recent memory.