When one does not understand, the easiest thing to do is complain, whinge and put negative energy out into the Aotearoa air. There isn't a lot that can be understood about Aotearoa's Blackcaps at this time, that's how I feel anyway and having said on the Niche Cast a bunch of times recently that this summer is a time of Blackcaps transition and transformation, I've become comfortable with not understanding. Even further, releasing my need to understand.

Usually, laying out the cricketing landscape in Aotearoa is rather simple; this player's on the rise, that player should be selected, 'wtf is that dude being selected for?'. Simple when everything is nicely laid out, simple when there is minimal Test cricket and a wee bit more simple when Aotearoa's male cricketers aren't in and out of Blackcaps, 'A' and domestic teams. This summer is however, different and while I won't comment on whether this is some grand plan from NZC, this is merely how I'm perceiving matters and how I go about explaining a landscape that is currently super duper muddled.

None of which is negative. I kinda like how things are, perhaps because I'm looking through the clutter to see that this summer will go a long way to shaping how the Blackcaps look in the coming years. I'd add that we are at the start of a new imaginary cycle, with a T20 World Cup looming (the first since 2016), the Test Championship heating up and then flowing into major ODI tournaments. All of which will come with a fresh wave of Blackcaps settling into various squads.

Kiwi cricket fans have gone from having the same group of 15 or so lads doing the cricket thing rather consistently, to a group that has expanded up to 20-odd even with numerous familiar faces absent. Injuries, form and a schedule that can only be described as hectic compared to previous summers has cluttered my mind with regards to the Blackcaps. This was perhaps most evident in how I viewed selections as clutter was created by weird selections, where there were rather clear solutions.

Watch Exclusive New Zealand vs India 1st ODI Highlights 2020 #Cricket #NZvsIND

This summer though, has seen me chill and observe the flow of players in and out of the Blackcaps. Such regular changes have come with losses, further sending cricketing folk into a Blackcaps abyss where the whole Blackcaps paradigm has shifted away from a generally settled winning, wholesome group to clutter, confusion and losses. Losses that have only come against the big-three in world cricket as the Blackcaps have only played cricket against England, Australia and India this summer. Trying to understand this can very easily lead you, or I to bitchin' and moaning.

Relaxing into a space of acceptance has been a whole lot easier given that I forecasted a steady rotation of players prior to the summer starting, based purely from how the summer schedule had been flipped. Dwelling in acceptance then leads to pondering how things may look on the other side of this period and how different variables shape that. As someone who has been critical of kiwi cricketing matters when many with much louder voices did the opposite, now is not the time to whinge and moan about the Blackcaps.

Now is the time to go with the flow. Be empathetic to the Blackcaps as they figure some things out, as players fight for their careers and other players hunt for an opportunity.

With regards to coach Gary Stead, he can do as he pleases. Head cricket coach may be one of the most over-rated jobs in the sport and unlike other sports that kiwis hold dear to their hearts, stemming from the individual nature of cricket and that different players will look to different coaches for input. I also believe that Stead doesn't have a whole lot of power considering that ol' mate chief selector enjoys his power and there is an establish core in the playing group.

To me, Stead feels more like a facilitator as he builds into this role. Deciding to take a small break would have been done in consultation with senior players and NZC - maybe Stead was told to take a break? In such a time of confusion and cricketing clutter, I understand this move can be perceived negatively, but again I lean towards empathy with the knowledge that Stead's presence isn't going to have a major impact on how the Blackcaps play.

That's because the one thing that is rock solid right now, are the cultural foundations of the Blackcaps. If Stead's out, other coaches who are well in tune with messages and ideas continue to work in alignment and then, for this ODI series specifically, Ross Taylor, Tim Southee and Tom Latham lead the way in ensure a continuation of Blackcaps themes.

My belief is that we are seeing the Blackcaps expand their tentacles, or have been forced to via the summer schedule. More players are spending time with the Blackcaps and that can only be a good thing moving forward, which then applies to the coaching staff who can pick up greater responsibilities in Stead's absence. This is the crux of why I reckon this is such a interesting time of transition and transformation as this wider Blackcaps group will soon be boiled back down with the best of the best earning further selection.

Everything is all good, it's just different and trickier to wrap thou head around. You could be that dude or lass who is bitchin' and moaning about all sorts of Blackcaps matters and that's fine. That's not my angle right now though and while I won't tell you how to think, this is the lens that I'm looking at the Blackcaps through.

Here are some Ross Taylor numbers for your viewing pleasure...

ODI Annual Breakdown

2017: 20 games, 60.50avg/81.89sr.

2018: 11 games, 91.28avg/88.87sr.

2019: 21 games, 55.47avg/86.51.

2020: Surely you saw last night.

T20I Annual Breakdown

2016: 9 games, 29.75avg/127.95sr.

2018: 10 games, 38.20avg/126.49sr.

2019: 11 games, 27.60avg/125.45sr.

2020: 5 games, 41.50avg/131.74sr. (only a single game in 2017).

Taylor averages 64.20/85.70sr in winning ODI run-chases.