Not good enough, simple as that.

I can say though, tonight, I was ‘balls out’ going for it, and I felt great. I’ll be going ‘balls out’ tomorrow too. I want this one; I really want to pull us back into the game. I love this ground, I love playing here, I want to do something special and I don’t want this one to get away from us.

I had got Butt in the first innings with a bouncer, which was going to be the base of the plan in the second innings. It worked. I got one just about perfect and Butt’s gloved it to Ross for the catch. I also picked up the other opener. It was last ball of the over; Farhat was on strike, Yousuf, the new batter, at the non-strikers end. Quite often, in this situation, you’ll bowl a bouncer to keep the new batter down the non-strikers end so that the next over is started at them. I went to Dan, who was bowling at the other end, and asked him if he wanted Yousuf, meaning do you want me to make sure it’s a ‘dot’ ball with a bouncer. He replied “I want you to give yourself the best opportunity to get him out; nick him out.” So I did. I nicked him out. I was happy making sure Dan could bowl to the new batter, I was even happier to have a wicket and Dan would still be bowling to the new batter.

If we can keep Pakistan to around 250, again, and leave us a chase of about 400 we’ll at least have the best batting conditions of the match. That’s the positive and we have to believe in every positive we can find.

The Pakistan bowlers bowled really well, and we nicked and missed the balls we should have missed and nicked. I couldn’t believe how many times we, as a bowling group, went past the Pakistani’s edge without nicks in the first innings. It got pretty unbelievable at one stage. But we hung tough and caught some great catches; I was a little surprised that the one I took stuck. I was very happy that I got to it, and even happier that it fell nicely into my hands.

We obviously need quick wickets, and yesterday’s hopes, in my blog, couldn’t have been further from what happened. Here’s hoping for a great day in Wellington and a better day of cricket for New Zealanders.

Delayed start, soggy outfield, very quick lunch and we’re into it; day one of the second Test is underway. And a pretty engrossing day it was too!

We knew the outfield was going to be very wet as it was splashing a lot underfoot just walking on it when we went to train the day before. It was a lot better when we arrived this morning but still very wet and a bit splashy in places; hence the delayed start. The problem with the outfield, apart from being a bit slippery, was that it was quite wet through part of the run-up from the Northern end. Running through the soggy bits isn’t the issue; it’s the water that gets transferred from the bottom of your boots to where you are landing on the pitch that causes the problems. Eventually the pitch gets wet and becomes slippery. This can be quite scary - hitting the crease at a decent running speed and trying to keep a stable front foot while delivering the ball can become difficult. This did cause a couple of problems today, but it’s just part of the game and sometimes you have just got to get on with it!

Dan won the toss - I’ve written that a lot if you’ve followed these blogs. Tuffey, playing in his first Test in five years opened the bowling with Tommy. It is great to see Tower (Tuffey) back. He’s been working so hard and finally gets his chance back in the Fern.

The wind was blowing from the south - that’s the cold wind here at the Basin and it’s also not the common wind direction. This meant I would bowl from a slightly unfamiliar RA Vance Stand end and it’s fair to say it took me three overs to settle. The next three were a lot better and cost just three runs. Not having a decent bowl leading up to this match hasn’t helped me in finding my rhythm quickly, as well.

Dan turned me around to bowl with the wind for my second spell. I had been bowling at around 125-129 kmh in my first spell and in this spell I reached 144 kmh a few times and hung around in the 140’s quite a bit. I felt great with the wind behind me and bowling from the end that I have made mine for Wellington and New Zealand. I picked up the first wicket after getting Butt to hit one straight up to Tower at mid on. The openers had done a great job; they left the ball very well on a tough surface and played the right lines but Butt's wicket opened the gates up. I bowled a really good over to Umar next up and made it really uncomfortable for the youngster in just his second Test.

Dan then picked up two wickets in one over, Farhat and Yousuf, and we were well on top. I kept making Umar’s life difficult and was really feeling great at this time: quick and aggressive and I really wanted a couple more wickets. Dan congratulated me on my spell at the end of an over, which meant I wouldn’t bowl the next one when I really wanted to keep bowling. I made an unhappy grunt in protest when he reminded me there were only two minutes until tea. Arh, that'll be why I'm done then - sorry Dan, I got that wrong. Smiles all around.

Those wickets didn’t come for me, but we finished the day with Pakistan on 161 for 6 and we are in a good position to knock them over tomorrow and have a decent bat. We would love to set up a big score and help out poor Wyvern Hunt (91 years old, not 93 as I had written), who presented us with our caps last night, and make this Test a little less close.

Time for a bath, catch you tomorrow night …

It’s just a quick one tonight before we head into tomorrow’s second Test match. As I’ve said in previous blogs, this Test is a special one for a few reasons. It will be the 50th Test match held at the Basin Reserve. The ground holds a very special place in my heart as it’s my home ground, where I’ve learnt how to play cricket, not just take part.

Tonight our caps were presented to us by a proud 93-year-old; he’s been to every Test match at the Basin. This kind of love for the game means a lot to us players. We love the game, but we also love to play in front of a crowd. No point more proven than last week in Dunedin where the crowd pulled us along and possibly shaped an amazing final day.

It’s been a tough buildup. We’ve not been able to get outside even once to train since we arrived in Wellington. This is not perfect, but it is also not the worst. It was a tired team that walked off the park last Saturday: the enforced lower key training sessions may well play a part in helping us stay stronger for longer. We’ve still been training, but you cannot train at the same intensity indoors as you can out.

I’ve just been out for a curry with a very good mate and feel really good; properly excited in anticipation of another Test at the Basin. Test wins at the Basin are special, they are celebrated differently to other Test matches; why? I don’t really know, but it is such a great ground to play at and that may have something to do with it. I’m not getting ahead of myself here, we’ve got some bloody hard work in front of us to achieve a win here, but we will be go full throttle from ball one.

Wellington, if you’re reading this, get along, help us out, make some positive noise like there was in Dunedin last week. Make it a special five days, make it a Test to remember for you and for us.

	I’ve never dislocated a finger, let alone one of my bowling digits and didn’t really know how or if I’d be able to keep bowling © Getty Images

Wellington, on a great day, is amazing. Today is a great day, and not just because it’s a great day in Wellington.

The first Test of the summer was a beauty. Whichever way it was going to go on the final day it was going to be an entertaining day of Test cricket and well worth the admission charge. And they turned out to watch. It was a great atmosphere right from the start of the day. It only got better and in that last session, when we needed four wickets and Pakistan needed 40 runs, the Dunedin crowd was the twelfth man out there with us on the park, fighting hard with us. It was amazing and I have never played in front of a crowd like that. With the intimacy of the ground and the closeness of the crowd, the 2,200 people that were there, made it sound and fell like 60,000; great job Dunedin and to those who travelled to be there for the last day (you boys who drove up from Queenstown, great job!!).

We won; but you already know that. It was amazing; but you already know that too. I can’t really explain the feelings that are still running through me now, but what I can tell you, if I could bottle this, save it up somehow and tap in to it when times are tough, life would be so much better. I just feel amazing. I feel like I’ve always wanted to feel from playing this game. I’ve been a part of a winning Test team before, but to have played a big part in a win when things were really against us is just absolutely amazing. Just remember Pakistan needed 55 with five wickets left. The odds were really stacked against us at that stage.

The day didn’t start to well; the plan was to bat for as long as we could. Well we did bat as long as we could, but it wasn’t as long as we wanted. I was done by a good set from Gul, three good bouncers, the first one hitting me reasonably hard, and then the full straight one hitting me dead in front. We had two referrals left, there was no point having them left over so I asked for it to be referred. I straight away apologised to Tufal for doing so, I was almost certain that I was dead, but I was just hoping that I had, maybe, got a little nick on it, or maybe it hit me just outside the line, anything, I had to check. I didn’t nick it, and it didn’t hit me outside the line. I was dead.

This was going to be a nervy day now, more so because we could only set Pakistan 250 in 90 overs. A very gettable target, and we were going to need some help from wherever we find it. Hopefully the pitch would play up more, and hopefully the ball would reverse like it did in the first innings. We got lucky, the pitch did play up a little and the ball did reverse.

We had a great start, Bondy and Tommy [Martin] picked up a wicket each. Two great catches by Baz and McIntosh respectively. Great catching was going to be so important in this one; Pakistan had shown that already for the wrong reasons.

I was nervous, really nervous. I had not bowled well in the second half of my overs in the first innings and really needed to do a whole lot better here if we were going to win this one. I had looked at my spells from the first innings to see what changed throughout the day; there was one thing I picked up straight away. Basically I wasn’t rocking back from the waist in my jump, I was still leaning forward from running in. These meant things weren’t quite in the right place at delivery and the results speak for themselves.

I hit warm-ups on day four practicing this and again yesterday (day five) I was really focusing on it before we got out into the middle. So heading out to start up the defence of 250, I knew things were on the line.

If I had another day like I did on day three, my Test career might have been gone. Yesterday was 'Career Day' for me. Get it right and I’ll be fine, get it wrong and I could be gone. Pretty scary stuff; these are the things that go through your head, it’s enough that I’ve got to go out and bowl to some great batters, but to contend with other head-messing stuff is really tough.

I started good; my action felt good, the reviewing and fix I had done with my action was working. I bowled a tight six-over spell first up, created a couple of nicks that didn’t carry, but I kept the runs down and the pressure on. There was a great feel out in the field, we were really enjoying ourselves.

A partnership between Umar and Yousuf was beginning to look troublesome. They had put on 40 when Tommy bowled a ball that changed the game. Whacking it in short, rising sharply, rushing at Yousuf, grabbing some glove leather on the way past and safely thudding into Baz’s gloves. A defining moment in the match! We were back as favourites at that moment and we just needed to get at least one of the brothers out and we would be well in front. Just Malik to deal with before Kamran would join Umar - the partnership that devastated us in the first innings.

By now the ball was reversing, it had been from about the 15th over. We really needed this, as do all attacks on flat tracks. I changed ends, and so did the wind. That didn’t impress me! But this was going to be my moment, this was going to be my spell. Just before tea I got Malik. Fifty five runs to get and five wickets in hand for Pakistan, and just then it became four in hand. I bowled Malik a bouncer, that didn’t get up, he ducked it and it only just got over his back. I thought I’d go again, another bouncer, hoping the bounce would be different and get a different result. It was and it did. It rose like the ball Tommy bowled to Yousuf. It flew through, grabbed an edge and I had my first wicket of the match.

The match was still on the edge and it was now tea. I had bowled four overs before and was pretty sure I was going to get the ball straight after too. It was going to be a tough session, the last one of the match, and we were all pretty tired and sore.

In my third over after tea I had my finger rearranged. Umar whacked one straight, I stuck out a hand more to stop the ball than catch it. If it stuck happy days, it didn’t though. It did take the end of my middle finger on its way past, and bent it the wrong way. The very end joint of my middle finger was bent up; it’s only supposed to bend down towards the palm. It hurt when the ball hit, nothing out of the ordinary there, it was only when I looked at it that I realised that I was in some trouble.

I waved to our physio, hoping she could put it back in straight away and I would be able to carry on. I’ve never dislocated a finger, let alone one of my bowling digits and didn’t really know how or if I’d be able to keep bowling. Kate (our physio) got it back in, on her third attempt; my hand was sweaty and she kept slipping off. We’ve since heard that this joint is one of the toughest to get back in. I felt it ‘clunk’ back into place, this hurt, a lot, too. I was really starting to worry that I wouldn’t be able to bowl. I remember asking Dan if it went for four; now that would have really annoyed me if that’d happened, it only went for two, so not all was in vain.

I grabbed the ball and gripped it in my right had trying to ‘feel’ the ball in my fingers. It felt a bit weird, it had sort of gone a bit numb; this worried me a little as I need to feel where these fingers are at delivery. I bowled a ball to Fulton at cover to see how it would go. It was going to be ok. It wasn’t perfect, but it’ll have to do. I’ll at least finish this over and see about the next.

I’ve been told my next ball was 5 kmph quicker than a couple of previous balls; it really must have been an adrenalin hit. I actually started to feel pretty good, finger sore, sure, but I was in the game, I was going to do something special.

Bondy got Umar a couple of overs later; it was another great return catch. Bondy just grabs these catches, it’s amazing! We were right back in the hot seat. The amount of ‘man love’ was amazing, it was hugs all round, we were pumped. That was one very special debut from what will probably be a very special player.

I bowled the next over and I had Kamran lbw. Every wicket was a huge celebration and for this one we got to celebrate three times. We celebrated big when Taufel raised his finger, we celebrated again when we got word from the shed that the appeal that was reviewed would stay with the on field umpires decision, and then we celebrated the third time when Taufel’s finger was raised again. The tension was amazing; the atmosphere was so good to be a part of.

I had really been looking forward to bowling to Gul since this morning when he hit me on the grill, and here was my opportunity. Do I bounce him and try to hit him, ruffle him up a little, or do I just hang to the plans, bowl tightly, nick him off or bring the stumps into play. I didn’t bounce him, but I’m sure he was expecting it.

I got him in my next over, Gul nicked one between keeper and first slip, I thought it was going to be his lucky day. A couple of balls later he scooped one to Dan at mid off. We were running around like mad men now. It really was going to happen. More hugs, more high fives, more pats on the back, all while I’m trying to keep my right (sore) hand out of the way of all the emotions. It was now that we really knew that we could/should and hopefully would win this Test.

Well, the rest now is history. Dan came on and does what he does so well with tailenders, he picked up the remaining two wickets.

The celebrations on the park were huge, it was brilliant. The crowd had been amazing; they really were our 12th man that day. I sure that the Wellington crowd can create an atmosphere similar and make the Basin Reserve’s 50th Test match great Test to play in. I managed to grab a couple of stumps, one for me and one for Umar, he really did deserve one from this Test. Unfortunately for him it will be one to remember for his individual performance, not for the teams result. With him and Aamer in this team, these two young men, with their standout performances will take Pakistan a long way!

I had my finger checked today, no breaks or fractures; that’s good. It just hurts and is swollen and a bit blue. It should be fine for Thursday, my home ground, the Basin Reserve, my favourite track to bowl on, wild horses couldn’t keep me away!

Day Three

	Shane Bond marked his return to Test cricket with a five-wicket haul © Getty Images

I woke this morning to a lot of noise outside. It was either raining very heavily, a tidal wave was coming, or there was a gale coming through. It was the later and that meant a tough day at the office for me. I bowl into the wind, that’s one of the jobs I have made my own. It is something I have prided myself on and if you’ve read a lot of my blogs you’ll know this; if you haven’t; when I was starting out for Wellington I picked the worst job in the team and I made myself good at it. There’s always a vacancy for the worst job in the work force. Doing that job has meant tough days at the office, but it does mean that I’m at the office, and I really do like my office!

I was 2 not out overnight and was looking forward to sticking around with the bat as long as possible. I’ve made a goal for myself every time I go out to bat to face 50 balls. If I do that the partnership should be up around the 50-run mark; even if I’ve only scored 10. Batting with Bondy was going to be fun, we were going to take every run on offer, and I knew he was pretty keen on hitting a couple of big balls! I was pretty happy too that Asif and Gul were not at full pace; they looked pretty tired from the day before.

I nicked a four and got a cover drive away off Gul. I was premeditating a little with that ball. I was guessing it was going to be full, and if it was, I was going to hit it as hard as I could. I had the wind behind me so if I didn’t quite get it, if it was in the air, it should still, hopefully, carry over the straight fielders. It was too wide to hit straight, so I just flung the bat at it, and it came off ok; sweet.

My first bowling spell was eight overs before lunch and then three straight after. Eleven overs of the first 14 to be bowled into that wind that day. It was hard work, and I was going well. I felt good, my rhythm good and my speeds were right up there. I felt like I was really doing my job, I was keeping the runs down so we could attack from the other end, and I was also making life tough for the batters that were in. The ‘into-the-wind’ role is often measured by how many wickets are taken at the other end, and in my first spell there was three; I was doing my job.

But that was where it ended. I came back for my second spell and I was average. I leaked more runs than we all wanted; I couldn’t keep things tight and quiet from my end. We went to tea and I was pretty pissed at myself for that spell. The bothers Akmal were together and playing with freedom. Umar, on debut and dropped (a toughie), was really taking the counterattack to us, and it was paying off. Kamran was hanging with him and also scoring well. I got an opportunity from the downwind end, I was really looking forward to this spell, a chance to let loose, to bowl fast and express myself. I still have to bowl well, keep things tight and build pressure. I did none of the mentioned. Absolutely none of them! I got smashed. It wasn’t good enough at all and, after my poor spell into the wind previously, I was feeling pretty average. My first 11 overs went for around 30, my next 10 went for 70. Not good enough. The Akmals batted well, not going to take that away from them at all. I just didn’t bowl well enough and it meant they got away from us. We probably could have bowled Pakistan out for around 200 had we done things as good as we started.

Bondy’s return was brilliant. He had four wickets at the end of the day. He bowled fast, really fast, after lunch and picked up three wickets in 10 balls. A game changing spell, and had Flynn of taken a screamer at gully, it would have been a four-wicket spell and Pakistan would have been six down for around 90. Game on!

Eight down at the end of the day, we’re still in a great position, pick the two wickets up cheaply in the morning and rest up for a massive fourth-innings charge to win the match.

Day Four

Bondy and Tom (Chris Martin) opened up and it was Tom who picked up the first wicket. We were off the park when Bondy picked up his fifth wicket. It has been a brilliant come back and a pleasure to share the field with him again. Yesterday Bondy did the hot paperclip through the toe nail trick to release the pressure that had built up because of the constant banging on the end of the boot. It was hurting a lot and I know how much this hurts, both the banging on the end of the boot when smashing down on it at delivery and then the paperclip through the nail. He was at it again when we came off again today. His big toe is a mess and he’s bowled through some pain to get the first-innings job done. I too needed to do the same, but I was staying clear of the paperclip this time. That just hurts too much. I sourced a very small drill bit and between thumb and finger I drilled my toe nail until I reached the blood beneath to release the pressure. It’s not a nice feeling and it doesn’t look to good but it does make things a bit better.

Guptill was doing some short-ball work in the nets before warm ups, under arms from five or six meters, and he wore one above his right eye. I’d normally say he was silly for doing that without a helmet on, but I was doing it the other day, so who am I to talk! I didn’t wear one though! So with his eye a bit puffy and vision maybe not quite 100% when he and McIntosh opened up for us. Two down with no runs on the board, Guptill and Flynn back in the shed; and I called our first innings the worst start possible. Taylor scored his second 50 of the match in a partnership with Mac and we started to look better until a mix up left Taylor run out; really not what we needed.

We lost wickets reasonable regularly from there and at stumps, drawn early because of bad light again, we are 244 in front with two wickets in hand. Elliott and I head back out there tomorrow to put as many runs on the board as we can before bowling for the win.

The rules around ‘light’ have changed. In the past the umpires offer the option to the batters to ‘go’ or ‘stay’. Not anymore, it is their decision alone. The batters get no option at all and in our camp that has caused a little annoyance. We have lost a wicket in both innings just (one ball) before the umpires have taken us off for bad light. And yes, it does play a big part; it was very hard to pick up the one ball I faced in the first innings and the two I faced tonight. The second ball I faced tonight I didn’t really pick up till it was about half way down. I was very happy it wasn’t a short one!

We’ve got some work to do tomorrow, we need as many runs as we can muster and then we are going to need a huge effort from the four bowlers to take the 10 wickets we’ll need for the win. Whatever happens, it’s going to be a great day’s viewing and I hope to either see you at the ground, sitting in front of your TV, listening on the radio or following it on Cricinfo.

I’ll catch you on Sunday, I won’t write tomorrow night, hopefully I’ll be celebrating (mildly) a very special Test victory.

I’m done, I’m pretty well knackered. And to be fair to my team mates I’m going to have to do this writeup tomorrow.

We didn’t get off the park until 7:40 pm, back to the hotel at 8:30; straight to see the massage therapist and then out for some food. I’ve just got back and it’s 10:40 pm. I have to sleep. Sorry.

It was a tough day, a whole lot of good and one bit of bad; and that bit of bad lasted a little too long for our liking!

I’ll do a whole run-through tomorrow night and cover off my batting (13 not out) and my bowling (the two halves of it), and also a great comeback by one great bowler!

	Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori added 164 for the seventh wicket © Getty Images

From Cricinfo.com
125.6 Umar Gul to O'Brien, 2 runs, fullish outside off and he pushes it wide of mid-off, more description of that in O'Brien's blog tonight

Too right you’re going to hear about it; apart from making a couple of cups of coffee and a toasted sandwich, I didn’t do too much else today.

The sun was out again when I pulled the curtains open, looked like another good day for cricket down here. The forecast wasn’t too great with rain due in later on. I got the late bus to the ground, straight into the shed and threw my batting gear on quickly and headed out to the nets for a hit before warm-ups started proper. I hit it ok, got a few balls out of the middle, ducked a few short ones, played Saqlain Mushtaq really well and was feeling really good. It was a quick run back to the shed, gear off and out to the middle to start warm-ups with the team.

It was an easy warm-up with a short game, stretches and then into whatever you needed to do to be ready for the day. I headed off to do some fielding, catch some catches, pick up a few ground balls and then into some bowling. I was woeful in the warm-ups with my bowling. I felt fast right from ball one but my radar was off. It’s sometimes harder to find pace than it is to find direction so of the two things to have in warm-ups, I’d rather have the pace. Losing the radar in the nets works me up a little bit; although in the past when I’ve bowled poorly during practice, I’ve gone out and bowled well when it counts. I got through probably two overs and just let it go; I walked away. It wasn’t going to let it get the best of me, I just walked away knowing that I did feel fast and energetic, but the radar was slightly off. For me, that’s experience paying off. Walking away, relying on the mental side to take over when the physical isn’t quite there.

Dan and Baz played well again, it was great watching them take us “oh so close” to lunch. It was then Bondy’s job to get Dan through to his 100. This is a big job, it’s a tough job, to come in when someone is near a milestone, you don’t want to get out on them and make it someone else’s job, you want to be out there with them and enjoy it with them. It wasn’t to be though. Dan, in the gloom, nicked one on 99 and the ended another great knock of his.

It was now my turn to head out there, it was pretty dark, and the chat in the changing room was that we shouldn’t be out there. It’s not our decision though, so we keep playing. I got a full toss, about thigh height and let out a ‘whah’ in surprise when it got to me. It was tough to pick up and I wasn’t expecting it to come at me so high without bouncing. I was pretty sure I was going to get a yorker, so I was set up for a full ball, I managed to hit it ok for a couple and got a cheer from the small, but vocal, crowd that was still at the park. Thanks guys!

Rain interrupted the day quite a bit and because of it we only got through 36 overs. Batting four sessions was our first goal and we’ve got there, reached 400 and are happy with what we’ve achieved so far. There was a fair amount of rain too while we were still out there playing, so if things happen like they should it could be quite tough to bat on first thing up in the morning. So whatever happens, it should be very interesting viewing. Not like that ‘bowler-breaking’ run feast that’s happening in Kanpur at the moment!

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Captains meeting done and dusted, massage finished, food done, blog and sleep to go before we head into the first Test of the summer against Pakistan, here in Dunedin.

This is a home series for Pakistan; Dunedin is about as far away from home they could find themselves climatically. I can’t believe I’ve just used the word ‘climatically’. It was very cold when we got here on Saturday, it has warmed up a bit, but when the wind comes in the temperature certainly drops a lot!

We’ve trained the last two days and trained well. It’s a good feeling when you look around the nets and field seeing the boys all going well; hitting the planned areas in the nets, taking our catches (slippers and outfielders) and showing the intensity that we’ll need to bring on game day tomorrow.

In our captains meeting our guest that handed out our Test Caps was Richard (Dick) Taylor, 1974 Commonwealth Games gold medalist in the 10,000 meters. This was a very special one for us. A Kiwi legend that put so much into one event, against a great field, and came up trumps! It was an honour to have him in our presence and have him present our caps.

We’re looking to bat first if blue is the major colour in the sky. The pitch looks like it will be pretty good first up to bat on; although that goes against a lot of first-class matches that are played down here. They quite often are over in less than three days. The last two Tests down here, the Bangers and the Windies, have been flat and pretty slow wickets. We’re expecting much of the same this time too.

Our bowling attack is probably one of the oldest put out on a park. We’ve been called ‘wizened’ and ‘geriatric’ by an ex-player in the media. It’s fair to say that between us (Martin, Bond, Tuffy and I) we’ve had a good laugh at it. We all feel great, sure it doesn’t get any easier, but in terms of fitness, energies, love of the game and desire, we’re as young as anyone would want to be!

Day one


I woke up this morning, pulled the curtains open and knew straight away that we would be batting. I was almost certain that if Pakistan won the toss they would bowl and, as it was a very blue sky, I knew we’d be batting. Dan lost the toss and we’re batting.

As always I was keen for a bowl but also, as always, it’s nice to have the feet up to watch the boys bat. I had a really good warm up, my bowling feels great at the moment (I know I maybe shouldn’t say that as it could very quickly bite me in the arse, but I feel great so I’m in a good place). The body is feeling fresh and full of energy.

Boots off, ankle brace off, trainers on and coffee in hand; time to settle in for the first session. There is always the little bit of nerves when you want to bat first and get to. Is that track going to do, or not do, what we think it will? Are they going to use the new ball as good as they’d hope to? Is it going to swing, seam, bounce or all of them?

We got off to the worst start possible, Tim McIntosh out first ball. Flynn was then out in the sixth over and we were 27-2. It is tough trying to stay positive in the viewing room when things don’t quite go to play; it goes pretty quiet for quite a while. The laughter and banter dries up for a bit and much as we try to stay positive there is always that little bit of you that says “please don’t let me have my pads on before tea! Please don’t make me bowl today!” Guptill and Taylor got the banter and laughter going back in our shed. They played brilliantly and got us right back on track.

Dan and Baz finished the day for us on a high, getting through six down sets us up for tomorrow nicely. This Umpire Decision Review System (UDRS), which is on its official debut, had a good day out for us today. Baz was given out, second to last ball of the day, LBW. He challenged the decision and with the aid of technology he was given not out. Please note I’m not saying the original decision on Baz was a bad one either; in real time it looked pretty good! The way the system is now set up, in regards to how it was used during the West Indies series last summer, is a whole lot better. I’m still not saying I’m in complete favour of it, but I guess if there are less bad decisions made, the more true the battle will become.

	Queenstown day one: It's cold out there © Iain O'Brien

It’s been a while... missed me??

Well, let’s kick this off with a bit of a catch up. I’ve been back in New Zealand for about three weeks. I’ve really enjoyed being back, catching up with friends and actually being able to get into the gym to build some strength as opposed to just doing ‘maintenance’ work. In saying that, I was very disappointed to not go to the UAE for the one-day and Twenty20 series. Still, I’ve made the best of a situation I wasn’t too happy with.

So far I’ve played one 'Plunket Shield' (four-day domestic competition) for Wellington and this last week played for a New Zealand Invitation team vs Pakistan. I’ve been really happy with how I’ve gone. The match for Wellington we drew against Canterbury. We had a very good chance to win it but just couldn’t break a very good partnership. I only took one second-innings wicket when we were trying to bowl them out; disappointed with that but I’ll add it to the five I got in the first innings and I walk away from that match happy with my form, my health, my strength, my pace (especially) and how I kept my energies throughout the match. I really felt good throughout this match. Pace was good, probably the quickest I have bowled for an entire match and I got through some overs!

	The remarkables: Warming up slowly © Iain O'Brien

Last week, in Queenstown, we played Pakistan in a ‘warm-up match’ for them. Warm-up is hardly the word to use for the first day of the match. Pakistan bowled first and it wasn’t too warm out there. I know I’ve said how hard it is to play when it is hot, but for these guys it must be so hard to get into it when you are so cold.

The ground at Queenstown is as amazing as it gets in terms of the beauty that surrounds it. If you’ve never been to watch a match there you really are missing out. The pitch is flat, there is always lots of runs scored there and the scenery really is second to none!

This match ended in a very tame draw at tea on the third day. The pitch was just so flat and without the intensity that a ‘proper’ match would have, taking wickets became very tough. It was a good work out though, I picked up a couple of wickets, hit for a run-out with just one stump to hit (pretty proud of that!) and scored 13 runs while hitting a six and taking a short one that didn’t get up from Abdur Rauf on the upper arm. Not a bad few days on the park really.

While I was batting something strange happened. I was actually willing Rauf to bounce me. All of a sudden I wanted bouncers. See, strange!!!! There’s a pretty good rationale behind it though. There is only so much bouncer training you can do in the nets, there is nothing like facing them out in the middle. If I get under a couple early then I feel a whole heap better about playing from then on. I swayed one from Rauf early; next ball, straighter, didn’t quite get up and hit me. No problems, it hurt a little, they always do, but nothing to worry about at all. It was actually quite good for me. I was in a reasonable position and it didn’t bounce like it should have. No dramas, let’s move on ...

	Queenstown day three: View from the lunch room © Iain O'Brien

So, I’m now in Dunedin with the New Zealand team, we joined up today. I drove the four hours it took to get here (we went the wrong way, care of Tuffey!) in the wind and rain. It’s a pretty drive but mostly obscured by nasty looking clouds. It’s good to see all the guys again, catch up on the UAE tour and get the new team kit issue ... I really only play for the ‘kit’; for all the training and playing gear. It’s my favourite time, the new ‘kit’ issues. You know me well enough now to know I’m kidding... yeah!!??

Anyway, it bed time now after a team meal out, a very good Italian feed at Etursco. Free plug for them because the food was soooo good!! Nice job, thanks!

I’ll try to be more regular with my updates now. I can’t make any promises, but I’ll be trying! Don't forget to get little updates via twitter: iainobrien