Grounds for satisfaction

The second season in a row of plentiful runs on New Zealand pitches shows that New Zealand Cricket's efforts to build better batsmen are having at least some effect.

The overall objective - to produce batsmen capable of making big scores internationally and playing time in test cricket - may still be a moot point but there is no question that the previous default cricket environment here (low, slow pitches of variable bounce) is no more.

The old pitch quality may have spelled difficulties for some touring teams - and some good New Zealand bowling figures - but New Zealand Cricket say bowlers prepared to work hard can still prosper.

The work done on bringing New Zealand pitches up to scratch is responsible for the runs feast again occurring this year, as it did last season.

See the rest of the article on the following link:-NZ Herald