WHERE were you? You should have been here in Christchurch. That was one hell of a last day against New Zealand. An epic. We should all be rightly proud of the team in their determination and focus on what was required with no thought of: ``We're 1-0 up in the series, let's protect what we have and play for a draw.''

Our only thought was to win, though to score 305 on that pitch batting last was a big 'ask'. The game was delicately poised at the end of the fourth day with us on 118 for two and nightwatchman Andrew Caddick at the crease with Michael Atherton.

There was so much rough created by the pace bowlers running on the pitch outside the right-handers' leg-stump that it resembled a lunar landscape, and the young New Zealand left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori would be a real threat.

Bowling over the wicket into the rough is a very negative, if highly effective, ploy, but our batsmen worked out a method of play which looked quite ugly - just kicking the ball away and waiting for any ball on the full or short enough to get a cut away on the off-side. It demands the highest level of concentration and patience, and the one thing we had in our favour was time.

It was quite funny, too, to hear some of the pundits at Lancaster Park talking about running down the pitch and hitting the ball over extra-cover. We tried that with me, at 50 years of age, bowling in the nets, and it never happened once. To execute the shot you would have to be a contortionist.

In general terms our batting let us down in the first innings, with only Atherton and, to a lesser extent, Robert Croft making any sort of show. Our bowling in New Zealand's second innings was effective, with Phil Tufnell and Croft very much to the fore.

Croft, in particular, is receiving rave reports from everyone and goes from strength to strength with every Test match he plays. Control, pace, spin and dip are all part of his armoury and, of course, he bowls a demanding line just outside off-stump. My challenge to him is to score Test match hundreds at number seven or eight.

We had all the comment about England having scored 300-plus in the last innings of a Test match only once, way back in 1928, and so the odds were against us.

Another comment at the end of the fourth day was made by my counterpart Steve Rixon, the New Zealand coach. He said that New Zealand did not think we could play under pressure. We coaches really do have to choose our words carefully because I picked up on that and told our team.

The other thing that we got through to everyone was that after 3.5 months away, having been thwarted by rain in the Test matches in Zimbabwe, and being 1-0 in this three-match series, this was the day we came out for. This is the day the whole tour hinges on. The response was terrific.

Atherton was Atherton and if ever there was a banker to score a century for the team, he was it. Caddick stuck around for a while as night watchman, and Nasser Hussain helped Atherton in putting on 80 for the fourth wicket.

When Atherton was out, we did have an alarm, and it is always a danger in these situations that when you lose one, you may lose two. We actually lost three, with Hussain and Graham Thorpe quickly following Atherton. This meant that we had two batsmen at the crease, John Crawley and Dominic Cork on nought.

They knew the score and the responsibility was theirs. They responded with measured, intelligent batting, playing as a partnership and helping each other along.

In the stadium you could hear a pin drop at the time of delivery but, if a run was scored or a maiden bowled, applause would ring around the ground. You try to stay relaxed, but it is so difficult. 'Athers' read his fishing book and then went to the shop across the road, but secretly our stomachs were churning and we could see that the New Zealand bench was exactly the same. No praise can be too high for Crawley and Cork as they inched towards the total. It will do Dominic a power of good to have achieved in that situation.

When the winning run was hit it was such a release for all of us. You know me for a bit of music: the only song to play at that time was Meatloaf's Not a Dry Eye in the House. We were ecstatic and New Zealand were so disappointed. The game was played with some needle, but it was in the very best traditions of Test cricket.

Atherton was named man of the match, and his contribution to the team in all departments was awesome; and I quote Steve Rixon in his after match comments: ``He was simply outstanding. People lead in different ways and Michael provided person inspiration to his team.''

We have had terrific support out here from The Barmy Army, and I do believe they live every ball as we do. Messages of congratulations have been overwhelming and people are speaking to me again, which is nice.

I still get asked the question: ``How are you enjoying the job, with the criticism and the pressure?'' Pressure, what pressure, after a game like this? Did we celebrate? You're darned right we did.

The one-dayers now, and we will have to be up for it. New Zealand are more than a decent one-day outfit and it will be a big challenge for our lads with a couple of the games under lights, a situation that we are not used to. We will give it our very best shot - no complacency. Mad for it again (Oasis).