Back in black

New Zealand enjoyed unprecedented success in 2014. Five wins in nine Tests was a national record, including series victories over West Indies and India, and a drawn series with Pakistan. They were buttressed by one-day international series wins against India and Pakistan. The team laid the foundations for a legacy with Brendon McCullum's leadership at its heart.

Contrary to perception, his pivotal moment came when they responded to a second Test defeat against West Indies in Trinidad by taking the series in Barbados.

"That was the most enjoyable moment of my career, though my own success was limited," McCullum said after averaging 14.50 in six innings. "It encapsulated everything we want to be known for."

On they went to the United Arab Emirates, where, in part due to McCullum's 202, they levelled the series against Pakistan. He shared a record 297-run second-wicket partnership with Kane Williamson, as part of a New Zealand-best 690 in a Test shadowed by Phillip Hughes' death.

The same mettle was shown against India at the Basin Reserve, when McCullum's 302 saved the second Test. His 195 against Sri Lanka on Boxing Day made him the first New Zealander to top 1000 Test runs in a calendar year, and he finished 2014 with 1164 at 72.75. His aggregate included New Zealand's two fastest Test centuries: 78 balls (Sharjah) and 74 balls (Christchurch).

McCullum offered inspiration, yet his year was tinged by uncertainty, knowing his testimony will form a key part of the prosecution if a perjury charge against former team-mate Chris Cairns is proven.

Aiding the New Zealand cause was the Test and one-day batting of the 3-4 punch, Williamson and Ross Taylor. At 24, Williamson has more centuries (eight) in fewer Tests (38) than Glenn Turner (seven in 41), Andrew Jones (seven in 39), Geoff Howarth (six in 47) and, dare it be whispered, Bert Sutcliffe (five in 42). His one-day record of eight 50-plus scores in his last 10 innings underlined his value, as did a record tally of 1933 runs across all formats by a New Zealander in a calendar year, overtaking Stephen Fleming's 1658 in 2004.

Ross Taylor's 2014 Test average (35.53) ignores the impact his self-belief had on the team with centuries in three consecutive Tests against West Indies at home last December. His ODI average of 66.20, including a run of three consecutive hundreds, also resonated.

New Zealand's most successful opening bowling partnership of Trent Boult (34 Test wickets at 28.58) and Tim Southee (33 wickets at 26.03) played momentous roles. Their strike rates guaranteed a wicket every ten overs, and their ability to swing the new or old ball was a key weapon.

Heading into the World Cup the selectors had to fit six quality pacemen into five spots. After Boult and Southee, the form of Matt Henry, aggression of Mitchell McClenaghan, experience of Kyle Mills and pace of Adam Milne presented a conundrum.

Other successes included Tom Latham, who established himself as a Test opener. His maiden century, against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, epitomised discipline. He repeated the dose in Dubai.

Allrounders Corey Anderson (with the world's fastest ODI century in 36 balls on New Year's Day) and Jimmy Neesham (the first New Zealander to score centuries in his first two Tests) showed sufficient promise to earn IPL contracts.

BJ Watling and Luke Ronchi continued their development as wicketkeepers in the Test and one-day formats respectively. Watling topped the international table for Test dismissals, with 40, while Ronchi's 418 runs at 41.80 and strike rate of 114 boded well for closing ODI innings.

Underpinning the revolution was coach Mike Hesson tapping into a reservoir of sabermetric material. Call it a return to "Hadleeism", but such scrupulous planning was welcome. His reward was a contract extension until 2017.

Administrators carried on preparing for a World Cup, reassured by strong team performances. Their best initiative came with the debut of Christchurch's Hagley Oval as a Test venue after the earthquake-enforced hiatus.

High point
This was like asking, "Which of your children do you love the most?"

A catalyst to success came with the world-record sixth-wicket partnership of 352 between McCullum and Watling to save the Wellington Test against India. McCullum made New Zealand's first Test triple-century, but that was a pleasant statistical by-product to the courage displayed when defeat beckoned.

In McCullum's words: "It showed we were prepared to fight bloody hard to make sure we didn't roll over." Everything the team has done since has been tagged by that "302" watermark.

Low point
The match-fixing saga was a cancerous cell on a year of robust health. Former international Lou Vincent admitted match-fixing and received a life ban. Chris Cairns faces a perjury charge stemming from a 2012 High Court libel trial in London, when he won damages and costs against former IPL boss Lalit Modi. Cairns has always described match-fixing allegations against him as "despicable lies".

Jesse Ryder broke team protocol as he tried to reignite his international career. Recidivist behaviour in November resulted in exclusion from the wider World Cup squad.

On the field, the only time the team failed to perform was at the World T20 in Bangladesh. Two wins and two losses couldn't translate to a semi-final spot.

New kid on the block
Offspinner Mark Craig headed to the Caribbean with 43 wickets at 42.88 in 22 first-class matches, but his path to becoming first-choice Test spinner was swift. His Man-of-the-Match performance of 8 for 188 against West Indies in Kingston were the best figures by a New Zealander on debut.

Craig repeated the dose in Sharjah with 10 for 203 and added 65 with the bat, all in the shadow of Daniel Vettori playing his record 112th - and likely last - Test for New Zealand in front of his family in the main stand.

Craig played seven Tests, took 26 wickets at 43.03 and averaged 44.42 with the bat. "The feeling of belonging has settled in. It's awesome. I wake up, put the kettle on each morning and have a wee smile," he said after the Pakistan series.

What 2015 holds
New Zealand are threatening to shake up cricket's world order across all formats. Scheduled Test series away against England, Sri Lanka and Australia will offer reliable benchmarks. One-day series wins over India and Pakistan suggest confidence and fortitude, and give reasons for optimism heading into the World Cup.

In ten editions, New Zealand have reached the semi-finals six times but never progressed further. A tournament at home and the gelling of the current playing, coaching and support staff suggests this is their best chance to do so.