Williamson flawless, middle order sloppy

Top-scored and played the innings of the series, finished with five hundreds in 2015 (with at least one ton in each of the series he played), broke the New Zealand record for most runs in a calendar year, and fielded virtually flawlessly again. At this point, it would not be surprising if he began levitating at the crease. He is the top Test batsman in the world at the age of 25, so he has time to work on that.

Last year, when Sri Lanka visited, Southee swung the ball viciously in both directions - and judging by the reactions of the batsmen - through undiscovered spatial planes as well. He wasn't quite as brutal with the new ball in this series, yet was the most consistently menacing bowler of the series. Got a little reverse swing in Dunedin, and his bouncer wasn't too shabby in Hamilton either.

An encouraging series for Guptill to follow a torrid one in Australia. His ton in Dunedin set New Zealand up perfectly in that Test, and his somewhat fortuitous fifty in the first innings in Hamilton won his team some important ground, before Dushmantha Chameera began bouncing people out. Took a terrific catch at leg gully to dismiss Dinesh Chandimal in the second innings of the second Test, though he had also dropped one in the slips in the previous game.

In a way, Wagner helped define the series, because he had been the first bowler to employ that short ball into the ribs, which later became a weapon for so many. He broke open Angelo Mathews' considerable defence in Dunedin, and continued to trouble Sri Lanka's middle and lower orders in Hamilton. Was called a "workhorse" by his captain prior to the first Test, but ended up having plenty of impact.

So many team-mates and New Zealand support staff spoke about Bracewell being unlucky this series, that you wondered if he had contracted some sort of rare disease. He bowled a terrific line throughout the series, but didn't do a lot with the ball - which may explain his comparatively lighter hauls. Also had two catches dropped in Dunedin. In any case, he was brought on to bowl to tail-enders in Hamilton, seemingly as part of a "Get Doug A Wicket" initiative. Was effective at No. 8 when he was required as well.

Scored a heartening first century on home soil in Dunedin, setting New Zealand up for their day-four declaration. Was the recipient of some good fortune in that innings, but batted sagely otherwise, riding out probing spells from Rangana Herath in particular. Was dismissed twice in the twenties, but as he appears to be developing series to series, New Zealand will not mind that much.

Spoke about respecting the opposition before the series, then came out the next day and slammed 75 from 57 deliveries against them. In Dunedin, the visitors never quite recovered from that salvo. McCullum was less effective with the bat for the remainder of the series, but his captaincy always seems sharp at home. Had his bowlers switch plans when the usual edges to slip did not materialise in Hamilton. Is poised to retire from Tests now, but typically for the man, his tenure at the helm has been brief but dynamic.

Mousy, soft-spoken and expressionless, Watling took several outstanding catches in the series, and made them look almost mundane. His tally of nine dismissals in the Dunedin Test equals a New Zealand record. He was almost flawless with the gloves throughout the series. Not much was required of his other discipline, though he has now had two modest series in a row as a batsman.

Much has been made of his T-Rex front arm in his bowling stride, but still managed to occasionally trouble batsmen on a flat surface in Dunedin. His batting did not impress in this series, but his fielding was excellent - the catch at the fine leg rope to dismiss Kusal Mendis in the second innings at Hamilton was a particular highlight.

Had back trouble in Australia, and didn't appear totally recovered from that in this series. His pace was significantly lower than it had been on Sri Lanka's previous visit, though he did bowl the occasional beauty.

Has had a lean year apart from that 290 in Perth, but perhaps had some poor luck in this series. Got a terrific ball early in his innings in the first dig in Hamilton, and was also out to an excellent boundary catch in the second. He dropped two slip catches as well - one of them a sitter.