Given a chance at the end of the summer, Andre Adams took it and showed that he has much to offer New Zealand as a bowler who can bat more than a bit. His bowling in the circumstances in the third Test win over England was perfect and his dismissal of Nasser Hussain, caught and bowled, was another example of his ability to pick up key wickets. With both feet on the ground Adams could add even more lustre to both the Test and ODI sides as an impact player.

Nathan Astle - 9.5/10

In his dotage, Nathan Astle will be able to look back on the past summer as a season 'extraordinaire'. His world record double century was the high point, an innings of unimaginable brilliance, but there was so much else to savour. His outstanding control to dismember the Australian attack at Perth, a ground that was not supposed to suit his style of batting. This was a more experienced, more complete batsman, and that was borne out in his one-day batting as well, never more than in his match-winning innings at Carisbrook. Throw into the mix his 19 overs in succession at Eden Park in the third Test when his control created the panic that overcame England, and you have a wonderful player producing for the team, but also for himself. His efforts will warm many memories during the cold months of winter, this year and into the future. His dropped catch off Graham Thorpe in the first Test is the only reason he doesn't score a 10 from the summer.

Matthew Bell - 3/10

Matthew Bell is now at a pivotal stage of his career. Other players are being preferred as stop-gap measures in the opening role while he, as a specialist, is being over-looked. That is something only he can alter and the remedy would seem to lie in settling on one batting style and developing it for all he is worth.

Shane Bond - 7.5/10

Regrettable as it may have been at the time, Shane Bond's stress fracture in his foot may prove to have been, in the longer term, a welcome break for him. Such a phenomenal rise to the heights brings with it extra demands and there would have been an element of expectation surrounding him against England that might well have been intolerable. There is no doubt that he is an exceptional find for New Zealand. He gives teeth to the attack in both Tests and ODIs and should be the source of many more wickets in both forms of the game.

Ian Butler - 6/10

The prospect of Ian Butler and Bond opening the bowling for New Zealand, at the peak of their powers, is a hope for something that has not often occurred in the game here. Butler, with more confidence and development, is capable of getting faster and it is an intriguing thought. The possibility of it happening is dependent on Butler avoiding the ever-present curse of injury and taking every chance available to him to speed the development process.

Chris Cairns - 8/10

For every feeling of anguish endured by Chris Cairns it is increased a hundred fold by long-suffering New Zealand fans. As he showed with his magnificent one-day century against South Africa at Brisbane, and in his earlier 43 in the first Test run chase against Australia, he is a match-winner. Another inch or two on his lofted on-drive at Brisbane and Australia would have been 1-0 down in the Test series. He has still got it with the ball in hand too, as seen by his opening over at Jade Stadium against England. He was the most successful of New Zealand's bowlers. He can be sure he will be seen by the opposition as the key link in New Zealand's chain of hope at the World Cup next summer - but that opens up the way for others to work around him.

Chris Drum - 7/10

It is one of the disappointments of the summer that Chris Drum's career is over, almost before it started. Such a controlled bowler is rare in New Zealand and he was just getting into the groove of the international game. He truly advanced during the summer and looked set for bigger things. A steadying hand in Auckland against England he will be missed.

Stephen Fleming - 7/10

For a captain as calm and assured as Stephen Fleming there should be more runs beside his name. Where have the booming off and straight drives gone? He should have an average much better than 29.07 for the summer. He went to England last winter with the aim of scoring more centuries and got off the dreaded two in Perth, but slipped back in the home series against England. With such a heavy international programme of one-day games next summer, New Zealand needs him batting with assurance and backing the efforts of those around him. Leadership has never been better from him while the personal milestone of 100 catches in Tests was another fine effort.

Chris Harris - 8/10

There's something to be said for the 'hungry fighter syndrome'. Chris Harris has made no secret of the fact that it was Test cricket that he most wanted to play again. Certainly he had struggled when batting down the order in the past, but playing as a No 4 batsman proved ideal in his Test recall this summer. He had a unique way of dealing with England's bowlers, but it was effective and he played two key hands in New Zealand's ultimate victory. His first innings 71 carried New Zealand from 19/4 and as captain Fleming said, it gave New Zealand runs on the board. He had done the hard work to deserve a recall and he proved his worth. As a result the battle for places in the New Zealand middle-order has never been tougher.

Matt Horne - 5/10

Matt Horne's recall to international play was welcomed as he seemed the ideal and experienced hand to partner Mark Richardson to greater heights. Unfortunately, he didn't fire as well as he is capable. He was dropped for the third Test against England, but was recalled for Test and ODI duty in Sharjah and Pakistan. As a result he has a great chance to establish a more permanent role in the side. New Zealand needs a player of his ilk to blunt opposing attacks.

Craig McMillan - 7.5/10

By his own standards it was almost an anonymous season for Craig McMillan. After the heady exploits of last summer with a maiden One-Day International century and his world record runs in an over it was always going to be a hard act to follow. But 535 runs at 53.50 speak for themselves. This was the summer of a more consistent McMillan - a player who is shaping as a big contributor over the next few seasons. The emphasis on one-day cricket next summer should be a challenge he rises to, and if New Zealand are to win the World Cup, McMillan will be a central element in that cause.

Chris Martin - 4/10

If any player suffered the second season blues it was Chris Martin. He never seemed to get back into the rhythm which served him so well last year, a fact reflected in his average for the international summer. How he comes back will tell the story of his future, but the feeling persists that there is much more on offer yet.

Dion Nash

Hardly worth awarding points to Dion Nash. After putting in much hard work to get ready for the summer he a suffered crucial injury again. The hope for New Zealand is that he can recover because his experience will be important in World Cup season next year.

Shayne O'Connor

In the same boat as Nash above.

Adam Parore - 7/10

A second Test century, and that against the arch-rivals Australia, and 200 wicket-keeping dismissals, the world was Parore's oyster. It still is, despite his retirement. His 'keeping during Australia was the best of his career and fit to entitle him to a world ranking. His mind slipped during the home series against England. But in the right frame of mind, and his batting in the second innings in Auckland was one of his finest contributions to the side, Parore is up there with the best. He needn't have stopped at 200, 300 were there for the taking - they may still be.

Mark Richardson - 7.5/10

His career average may have slipped below 50 but Mark Richardson is a central plank in New Zealand's batting strategy. Right from the platform he set up with 57 off 69 balls in New Zealand's first Test run chase at Brisbane back in November, through to the more defensive, but vitally important, 25 in 157 minutes in the second innings against England at Auckland, Richardson proved so adaptable. That is his most endearing quality and further evidence of why solidity is so important at the top of the order. His one-day summer may have been forgettable, but there is no doubting his place in the Test scheme of things.

Mathew Sinclair - 4/10

In less-resourced times in New Zealand cricket, Mathew Sinclair would probably be still in the national side. Lesser players have held onto the places for longer. However, Sinclair is one of several players now competing for spots. And Harris' success in the last Test has only compounded that situation. Too talented to be out of the action for long, Sinclair may well find that patience will be his greatest virtue. And timing, one of his batting assets, will be crucial when he returns with so much more cricket on offer nowadays.

Daryl Tuffey - 7.5/10

What a workhorse. New Zealand need big, strong bowlers and it is hard to imagine a more suitable candidate than Daryl Tuffey. His strength and stamina is unusual among New Zealand's main stream fast-medium attack and must be nurtured. Surely now he is deserving of much more consideration as a strike force. A match-winner against England in Auckland he is on the way, and once over the slow starts to his summer, if that is possible with modern scheduling, he is going to be a key man for the side, and that is in both Tests and ODIs.

Daniel Vettori - 7/10

It is one of those statistics that escaped immediate notice but Daniel Vettori ended the season as the eaual fourth highest wicket-taker in Tests for New Zealand on 130 dismissals. For all his problems with his back he still took 24 wickets, still only second to Cairns, and he hardly needed to bowl in the last Test. Ahead of him are: Richard Hadlee 431, Chris Cairns 197, Danny Morrison 160 while he shares the spot with Lance Cairns. The hope has to be that his back continues to improve and that he can enjoy his bowling in the manner seen so effectively in Australia, and Perth especially, for many years to come.

Lou Vincent - 7.5/10

The big mover on the New Zealand Test scene this year with his maiden Test century and half century in the same match, on the unforgettable occasion in Perth. No greater advertisement for his potential could have been produced. However, the pace of his bright start was too much to keep up and it is consistency that is now the challenge for Vincent. Consistency in performance and a consistent place in the batting order. He is a wonderful asset for the game, both in his attitude, and also his off-field demeanour. You get the feeling watching him that he wants the world to share in the good news that is cricket. And that is great.

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