England win a timely boost for New Zealand's summer

England's victory over Australia in the fourth Ashes Test has been a shot in the arm for New Zealand fans eagerly awaiting the arrival of the English team this summer.

While most England tours of New Zealand create more interest than all but visits by Australian Test teams, the recent successes by England in Pakistan and Sri Lanka had suggested the once proud nation was in recovery mode.

Then came the deflation of being 3-0 down to the Australians with nowhere to go.

However, the return of Nasser Hussain to add steel and leadership to the side, the ability to chase a target for victory personified in Mark Butcher's innings, the recall, at last, of left-arm spinner Phil Tufnell, and the decision by Graham Thorpe to be available for the tours of India and New Zealand, all add up to an even spicier tour.

All the characters are falling into place to give the tour a profile that will make it one of the most interesting in recent New Zealand Test history.

Added factors of interest will be provided by the possible absence of Mike Atherton, and should he retire at the end of the Ashes series, the hunt for a long-term opening replacement for him. Similarly, the prospects for Alec Stewart. He has said he wants to play at least until the next World Cup, but do the selectors share that feeling, or do they want to develop another wicket-keeper?

England also have on their agenda their desire to beef up their one-day game to improve their chances of competing successfully at the World Cup in South Africa in 2003.

That also adds flavour to the New Zealand summer as the home side is still casting around for the winning formula to lift it back into a credit position on the win/loss ledger in One-Day Internationals.

New Zealand won't lack preparation on either the Test or one-day front.

Both the Test and one-day sides will have been through campaigns in Pakistan and Australia, with a breather against Bangladesh over Christmas. There is every chance that Chris Cairns and Daniel Vettori will be restored to full match fitness, with even the prospect that Dion Nash's encouraging progress will have been sufficiently tested to make him available for the longer aspect of the game.

New Zealand also has the incentive to back-up its 1999 effort where it won the Test series in England 2-1.

Injuries have meant that New Zealand hasn't fielded a fully fit side at home since the 2-0 series win over the West Indies in 1999/2000 but if the side can put the crisis of last summer behind it, then a much-needed highly-competitive summer may be just what the game in New Zealand needs.

Several significant initiatives are underway in the advancement of the game in New Zealand, especially at levels below the international and first-class ranks, and if cricket could have a summer of positive play at the showpiece level of the game then it stands to reason that the benefits will be felt across the board.