Well, it has been an extremely long month off since the end of the one-dayers, and it certainly hasn't been easy.

My days have been extremely quiet and there have only been two things that have kept me going; the exciting test series unfolding on Tv and Chris Cairns's CricInfo articles - which I find highly entertaining, especially finding out how his knee is every day.

Myself and Chris have had numerous conversations about whose article is more entertaining and it is fair to say that we have different opinions.

It has been a great Test series so far, bar some of the Pakistani bowling efforts on the last day of the Christchurch Test. I think Yousuf Youhana's over would have to go down as one of the worst overs in the history of Test cricket.

I know the boys were extremely upset with the collapse in the Auckland test, I thought we had a chance of winning it, especially if we got through that first session with the loss of no further wickets, but we were undone by the pace of Sami and the wizardry of Saqlain.

The second Test seemed destined for a draw from the start and played out that way. This third Test, if the rain can stay away, should result in a win for New Zealand, which would be a great way to end the series.

There have been numerous individual highlights for members of both teams throughout the series.

For New Zealand, there has been the emergence of a world-class opening pair in Mark Richardson and Matthew Bell.

It was great to see them both get their maiden test hundreds in Hamilton and I imagine it won't be long before they take over from Wright and Franklin as New Zealand's most successful openers.

Other highlights for New Zealand include Matt Sinclair finally getting his first test 50, he must be sick of those double hundreds, and Daryl Tuffey's continued progression into becoming New Zealand's No 1 bowler. For the Pakis Younis Khan, Yousuf Youhana, Inzy, and Saqlain have all scored great hundreds, and Saqlain and Sami have been great with the ball in hand.

There has been some great cricket played around the world, especially the Aussie v India series with the Indians knocking the Aussies off their winning streak.

I think my record of youngest spinner to reach a hundred test wickets will soon be broken by Harbharjan Singh the way he is going. I do remember him being out in New Zealand and Cairnsy and Macca smashing him all round the park, but as happens for most bowlers, the tides turn and did so in a big way for Singh.

England continued on their winning ways, four series on the trot now, although they got thrashed in the one-dayers.

I had a back scan the other day and all was clear so that bodes well for a winter in the gym getting ready for the tour to Pakistan in September

© CricInfo