Captain's Log: Signing Off
From the BNZ series website, 23/3/1999

Hello everyone, this is Dion signing off from Captain Log! Time for me to hand the reins back over to Flem, who I'm pleased to say is back with us as our team captain here in Napier and rearing to go.

I feel really privileged to have been entrusted with the national captaincy in Steve's absence over the last couple of months. It's been a great experience, though a tough one at times, for sure. Not everything has gone my way, and I've found out first hand how demanding it really is to captain your country both on and off field. It's much easier letting someone else do the job! But I know I'm the richer for it as a cricketer and will always value the opportunity the selectors offered me. The support I've had from the team, from Flem and from the public has been awesome as well – thank you all!

But naturally I was deeply disappointed to have lost the third Test and the Bank of New Zealand Test Series in Wellington. It stings. I think we have to take our hats off to the South Africans and the way they've played, however. They've really shown us what the standard is at the top of world and Test cricket and what we've got to do to get up there ourselves.

We all knew it was just a matter of time, of how long we could stave it off and keep them out there, but that was no reason to capitulate and it was a matter of pride to us to make them bat again. It was nice to take a couple of wickets, too, when they were chasing such a small target. It felt a lot better than a innings defeat and I think it was indicative of the spirit in which we've played this entire Series. The better team won, but we hung in there.

We weren't totally despondent afterwards. Personally I was pleased with the way we still fought right to the end, Simon Doull coming up with his highest Test score on the last day in Wellington.

We're drawing towards the end of what's been a long summer for us and I think it's fair to say we've been showing signs of a little bit of tiredness and frustration. That's partly due to the way the South Africans have played, as well. They never really let us get into the match during the Test Series and it was so frustrating. But that also has made us hungry and we're determined to play better in the remaining one-dayers, as we know we can. The guys set a standard against India and in the early games against South Africa and we're all determined to get back up there.

We'll continue to feel the loss of Cairnsey, I think, because he's a special player, a genuine allrounder who balances both the bowling and batting line-up nicely. But on the bright side we've got Steve back and he's the mainstay of our batting. There's also the possibility we may have Craig McMillan back for the fourth Bank of New Zealand One-Day International in Auckland. And it's been uplifting to see guys step up to the plate in their absence and do their best to perform – guys like Shayne O'Connor and Gary Stead.

On a personal level I was frustrated that I didn't get into the game as much in this Series as I did against the Indians. None of our bowling attack did really, with the exception of Daniel Vettori getting into it a bit at the end. I don't blame that on the captaincy, though – if anything it's just conditions and maybe a form thing.

One thing we're all working on is our ability to play the short-pitched delivery. We've definitely been exposed there, even though we were playing on flat decks. They bowled a length that was awkward for our guys, one we're not used to. The standard in New Zealand first-class cricket is certainly several pegs below the standard we faced out there against South Africa's best. But the more you play against it the more confident and adept you get and we're all determined to improve that aspect of our game. I think even in Wellington, as the match went on, we saw the likes of Chris Harris get more used to it and start to handle it more comfortably.

I know I've copped a bit of criticism too for choosing to bat first in the Series, but I stand by those decisions even now. I think unless a wicket is genuinely a green seamer and you're going to get a lot of assistance on the first day then you've got to back your batters to get enough runs. It was unfortunate for us that that part of our game simply didn't go to plan, while they came out on a flat deck and showed us how.

At the end of the summer I think we'll still look back and see a lot of positives. You learn a lot in defeat, too. But right now our attention's turned back to lifting ourselves for the last three matches of the season and, beyond, the World Cup.

We're keen to do well and have arrived in Napier today to blissfully warm weather and plenty of well-wishers. We want to give it everything at McLean Park on Thursday and give Flem the best 'welcome back' present we can.

Over to you, Flem. Thanks for your support and all the best,

Dion. 

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