Kiwis are winners but does the public care?

Do New Zealand cricket fans like winners?

That is the question that will be answered as the National Bank One-Day International Series is played out with New Zealand having already taken an unbeatable 4-0 lead.

Three day/night matches remain to be played in Wellington on Wednesday, in Auckland on Saturday and in Hamilton on Tuesday next week.

This should have been the bonus time for New Zealand Cricket in terms of gate-takings for this shortened international summer.

Beforehand, it would have been reasonable to presume that the series would still be alive by this stage.

However, the lack of fire from India's batsman has made the series a non-event. Or has it?

New Zealand cricket fans have been long suffering in following the fortunes of their side over the years. It has been an activity designed to test the loyalty of fans.

Yet the true cricket lover will follow the game through thick and thin because even if there is not your own side to support you could always appreciate the skills of the opposition.

New Zealand now is in rare territory - four wins in a row and a series already wrapped up.

They have not been fully tested and they haven't even been required to show their best form to achieve the wins.

That is of serious concern and it can only be wondered how the New Zealand public would be reacting if the TelstraClear Black Caps were performing as miserably as the Indians.

New Zealanders like to think that, even if their side is being hopelessly out-classed, the players would still be trying their hardest.

The hope has to be that New Zealand can turn the situation to their advantage. The top-order batsmen have been out of form but with the pressure off winning the series they can now use that situation to their own benefit.

That is about all there remains to play for in the series.

Equally, the bowlers can't afford to let their hold over the Indian batsmen decline and that becomes a genuine test for them.

It is an interesting comparison to the Australian attitude to sport.

Australia might have been 4-0 up going into the last Test against England for the Ashes, but that didn't stop the crowd turning up in massive numbers for the first three days.

For their rewards they got a great match.

What will New Zealanders do by comparison?

Indications are that the series has become a turn-off.

New Zealand still have everything to play for. Success in limited overs cricket has not been one of the most common achievements since the 1992 World Cup. But winning is a habit and the more they can get before the World Cup the better.

India would dearly love to regain the habit and the hope has to be that if Sachin Tendulkar can finally make it onto the field that he may be able to spark a revival. India can't afford to go to the World Cup with their tails between their legs.

There may yet be some life left in this series.