Funnily enough, with all the confusion and kerfuffle around Aotearoa's Blackcaps, everything feels as though it is falling into some sort of alignment - and I'm not necessarily talking about results. The Blackcaps have defeated India in the first two ODIs, coming in hot after being swept through the T20I series and for those zoning in on the results; the fact that the Blackcaps have twice clawed their way to victory should be viewed as an beautiful sign.

That's especially relevant given the losing nature of the Blackcaps in recent times and for this group to win niggly games, with different individuals rallying to command victory, adds a extra layer of funk to these performances. Ponder Tim Southee's desire to bowl while visibly looking rather icky, Ross Taylor's 'follow me' efforts with the bat, Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls showcasing a desire to win the opening 10 overs, or the passion and intensity on offer when watching Hamish Bennett and Kyle Jamieson go about their work. Excuse me as I reflect on Jamieson staring down every Indian batsman he bowled to like the hearty South Aucklander he is. These are small observations that tell us more about the Blackcaps environment than the skill or potential of players.

There is a fair amount of negativity around coaches and selectors at this moment, which may present a case for good vibes being present when Gary Stead is absent. I noted the Blackcaps cultural vibe earlier in the summer when they were playing Test cricket against England and I'm definitely of the belief that Stead is a part of this, in helping to establish such a vibe and then lead that.

Settle, because I also believe Stead's role is over-stated in this case. Stead has established and led a Blackcaps culture in conjunction, with Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Southee among other notable players. What we are currently seeing is that these foundations are strong enough to maintain influence while Stead's away, while Williamson isn't playing.

I head down this route because the focus then goes on the selectors and ol' mate chief selector. Fascinating, absolutely fascinating because the Niche Cache's pages a littered with consistent confusion around the decisions made by Gavin Larsen for the past few years and now it seems as though others are just catching on. We have been so vocal, so comprehensive in detailing how weird and many weird selection decisions have been made, that at this point it's a case of ... meh.

I do no expect coherent, logical decisions with regards to Blackcaps selection.

With this in mind, if some joker thinks it's wise for Ish Sodhi to play one ODI game then go play a four-dayer for Aotearoa 'A', then all good. I guess it depends where you are on this kinda timeline as if you're new to this, then you'll be rather expressive in your confusion. If you, yourself have been wondering about such selection oddities for a while, then you know that such oddities are incredibly likely.

All of which presented an interesting moment as I saw the team selected for the second ODI. The circumstances for last night's game were a bit bonkers with players sick and what not, yet I was still a wee bit excited to see Mark Chapman batting #8 and a possibly bowling option. Trying to understand how the Blackcaps got in this position with Chapman, will leave you absolutely baffled.

You heard it all night from the commentating folk, who regularly tried the lamest game in cricket where you try and make sense of Blackcaps selections. Having done a full circle on that topic, resulting at me being far less interested in selection oddities and more interested in the result, I was merely excited to see that specific playing 11 in action. Somehow the Blackcaps ODI team has a bowling group of Southee, Jamieson, Bennett, Colin de Grandhomme, Jimmy Neesham and an option of Chapman. No idea how that happened, but it is what it is/was.

The commentating folk were also trippin' about a lack of a 'proper' spinner as the Blackcaps took 10 wickets with seamers. Again, I'm not buzzing about how the Blackcaps got into that position where their five bowlers used at Eden Park are all seamers (right-arm seamers), I'm intrigued as to whether that could actually work. 10 wickets later and chur.

Whether it's the selection oddities or this summer being an obvious time of transition, I'm happy with my method of being patient and going with the Blackcaps flow. That's easy to say after two wins and hearty, mana-filled performances, although you'll see consistency in this belief regardless of results.

Chapman didn't really do anything, which is fine. Jamieson certainly did in one of the more enticing debuts I've seen and his range of skills was on display. My favourite aspect of Jamieson's game is how he moves the ball and similar to how Lockie Ferguson has been hooping 145km/h deliveries around corners in the Plunket Shield for a while now, Jamieson has been swinging and nipping the ball, from his awkward height since he came on to the domestic circuit.

You don't average under 30 in the three domestic formats by relying on 135km/h deliveries from that height. Jamieson showed some movement away from India's righties, his ability to move the ball into right-handers though was the highlight and whether it was his peach to dismiss Prithvi Shaw or some bouncers that climbed back into the batsman, Jamieson's arsenal was on display.

Also notable here is that Jamieson's a product of what could be viewed as the best seam bowling system in Aotearoa - Auckland Grammar School. Jamieson is joined by Jimmy Neesham and Lockie Ferguson has key products of the AGS cricket set up and I'm struggling to think of one farm that has a current harvest like what we are seeing here with these three.

We were again treated to a Ross Taylor piece of art, the second in as many games and Taylor's now strolled through two not-out innings with an overall strike-rate of 115.18. After averaging 41.50/131.74sr in the T20I series, Taylor is now the leading run-scorer for both teams in this ODI series while he doesn't have an average for 2020 because of those not-outs, Taylor is on track to average 55+ for the fourth year in a row.

I've also got some intrigue in the opener pair of Martin Guptill and Henry Nicholls, given that they have got through the first 15 overs before losing a wicket. In both games, this pair has respected good bowling and shown that desperation to win this phase of the game and while watching them yesterday, I pondered the impending explosion that would have come from Colin Munro in those situations.

With Munro and Guptill, it used to be a case of if good bowlers built pressure, something was definitely going to happen with Munro - which could impact Guptill's vibe as well. Usually, this saw Munro get dismissed and sometimes Munro would be on fire in whacking boundaries everywhere. The Guptill/Nicholls combo appears to be far more comfortable in dealing with good bowling; taking opportunities, keeping good balls out, limiting the chances you give and being able to score from good bowling.

Those two are probably the quickest in the Blackcaps group as well, making it easier to score of good bowling as forward defences turn into quick singles. Nicholls is low key a 50-over monster right now as he's on a run-scoring streak of 120, 62, 55 (Ford Trophy), 78 and 41 (ODI). Here are Guptill's recent annual averages...

2015: 55.14.

2016: 42.76.

2017: 48.

2018: 47.

2019: 36.11.

2020: 55.50.

Tough going for Tom Blundell at the moment though, with Blundell unable to make the most of those 15 over starts - which is all good because matua Ross does it instead. Blundell's got 31 runs @ 15.50avg/88.57sr and this would be a prime candidate for 'wtf selection is this' discussion as the Blackcaps ODI #3 has a List-A average of 24.20, sans century.

Blundell also struggled in the three one-dayers vs India 'A' with scores of 16, 0 and 37. Then Blundell cracked a 97 for Wellington in the Ford Trophy prior to this series, although he doesn't feel like the best #3 available and of course, that's Kane Williamson's spot. Once again though, I'm over caring about how Blundell got to be in this position in this specific scenario that reflects the wider selection scenario. Blundell got that opportunity and hasn't quite taken it, all good.

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Peace and love 27.