New Zealand A's tour of India has been just the latest phase in an encouraging rise in player performance in this country.

The victory in the Buchi Babu tournament and the sound showing, so far, in the Coromandel King Moin-ud-Dowlah Gold Cup cricket tournament, have delighted New Zealand officials for a number of reasons.

New Zealand Cricket's operations manager John Reid said a player like Lou Vincent was now putting real pressure on incumbents in the middle-order batting.

"It is taking all of our players out of their comfort zones," he said.

But Reid said the tour to India was only one aspect of a revival generating across the board in New Zealand.

The influence of the Cricket Academy, the increasing standards of first-class cricket, two rounds of the Shell Trophy and now the A team tours had all be part of the process.

"It takes time to come through but the signs are emerging," Reid said.

New Zealand now had three opening batsmen who had all made a mark in Test cricket and the bowling resources were deeper.

"Quick bowling wise, although they are not world-class, we have a number who able to step up and all those used last year played well.

"We also have three or four up and comers as well who looked very impressive in the Under-19 series against South Africa last summer," he said.

There were still concerns with spin bowling, but progress was being made overall.

"I think one of the less appreciated benefits of the tour has been the rehabilitation of Hamish Marshall," he said.

Marshall had endured a poor first-class season after returning from Africa last summer but had come up with what Reid described as "a pretty useful tour" in India.

The Indian connection created by participation in, especially, the Buchi Babu tournament was especially valuable to New Zealand because four of the 10 Test-playing nations were now from Asia.

"Increasingly, our players have to know how to play there," he said.

The tournament connection was valuable for New Zealand but with limited resources New Zealand Cricket was continually having to assess what was the best way to develop. Whether that was through the A team, supporting first-class cricket, the A team provincial competition, the Academy programme, the Academy touring programme and the Under-19 side touring or playing in the World Cup.

"We are always having to think 'What is the best mix for us?'," Reid said.

© CricInfo