The night before the third one-day international at Auckland, I told a colleague of mine in the UK that the expected slow wicket at Eden Park gave New Zealand a decent winning chance

The little matter of 314 runs batting first, a blazing century to Matthew Hayden, boundaries as common as singles: a typical Jade Stadium deck, you would think

Verdict

For New Zealand cricket fans the Boxing Day tsunami disaster could hardly have struck at a worse time

For New Zealand cricket fans the Boxing Day tsunami disaster could hardly have struck at a worse time

For New Zealand cricket fans the Boxing Day tsunami disaster could hardly have struck at a worse time

The latest fundraising match between New Zealand and a World XI had it all, says Andrew McLean

The latest fundraising match between New Zealand and a World XI had it all, says Andrew McLean

The recall of Jeff Wilson to the New Zealand cricket team after a 12-year absence was always going cause a stir, but the extent to which it has escalated defies belief

After ignoring Jeff Wilson, the double international, since his return to cricket in 2002-03, the selectors have named him in the New Zealand squad for the three-match series against the World XI

Summer may not have arrived in New Zealand but the Christmas turkey did and, as New Zealanders pile into their cars and head for the holiday spots, television becomes all-important for cricket fans to keep in touch with the international season

As the inaugural ICC Super Series in October 2005 - which will feature the top Test and one-day side taking on a World XI - draws closer, the forthcoming New Zealand-Sri Lanka series will feature an individual duel between two players vying for one

The ride of a New Zealand cricket fan is a turbulent one