AH, New Zealand… land of the long white cloud and the seemingly even longer-forgotten notion of Test cricket played with a smile rather than a scowl (famous last words).
The Black Caps never enter the arena with anything less than full, steely commitment, even though their Aussie neighbours often decry them as the antipodean version of southern softies.
But, as with their rugby players, once they’ve welcomed you with the haka, the onfield threat is intentionally silent, respectfully delivered and nearly always, well, polite.
In recent series part of the charm offensive has been...