The next Test challenge for Aotearoa's Blackcaps was India, having slid back to Aotearoa after being squeezed through the sieve that was a 0-3 sweep in Australia. By this stage, Daryl Mitchell, Lockie Ferguson and Glenn Phillips had made their Test debuts but weren't required to face India, while Tom Blundell's big donnie performances across the ditch saw him settle into his role as a frisky Test opener.

Then the disaster (/beautiful sieve) that was the tour of Australiahttps://t.co/6hbIu6m0dU
— The Niche Cache (@thenichecache) March 28, 2020

Matt Henry, Mitchell Santner, Jeet Raval, Todd Astle and Will Somerville got caught in the sieve. As you do, the sieve got flicked over the shoulder and it remains to be seen where these blokes landed in the Blackcaps Test mixer - all we know is that Astle's not playing any red ball cricket. Given the quality of cricketers that are on the cusp of Blackcaps Test selection after this summer of transition and transformation, it's s prickly predicament for those who dipped out of the Blackcaps Test frame.

The beauty in such a summer that saw its importance sit in the shuffling, re-arranging of personnel and not as much with results, was that when a bloke was promoted they performed. Mitchell and Phillips scored runs on debut, while Blundell got a crack at opening and finished the summer as Tom Latham's partner for the foreseeable future. The lads who slipped out of the Blackcaps Test group did so primarily via their own mediocrity and those who got the nod plugged those holes.

Canterbury's six foot eight, 21-year-old pace bowler takes his maiden first-class five wicket bag in the Plunket Shield, brought to you by Budget Rental. Rep...

Kyle Jamieson was the next joker to earn a promotion and in pondering Jamieson specifically, he feels the closest of the debutants to consistent Test cricket at the moment. With a wider view, absorbing the vibe of transition and transformation, Jamieson merely followed on from Mitchell and Phillips in performing at the highest level, on debut. The way Jamieson spiked the antenna of kiwi cricket fans was exciting, ripping through some of the best batsmen in the world and scoring runs when required. Keep that overall trend at the front of your noggin' though as it's an incredibly positive sign when numerous lads can contribute on debut.

That series vs India was kinda all about Jamieson though and fair enough. Finishing with 9w @ 16.33avg, sending Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli back to the sheds in the first Test, then Prithvi Shaw and Pujara again after both had scored half-centuries. Two opportunities with the willow saw Jamieson hit 44 and 49; Jamieson's wickets came alongside fine work from Tim Southee and Trent Boult, yet not the kiwi batsmen weren't overly dominant and Jamieson ended up fourth in runs for Aotearoa, only 4 runs behind Kane Williamson.

Other than Jamieson, Ajaz Patel was another benefactor of the Australian sieve as he returned to be the main spinner. Having been ignored to allow for Mitchell Santner's return, then again ignored to allow Will Somerville and Todd Astle to play in Australia, Patel's treatment didn't get much attention throughout this summer.

The summer actually kinda started in Sri Lanka, where Patel finished as the leading wicket-taker in the whole series with 9w @ 26.88vg. Somerville was more than acceptable with his 7w @ 31.14avg and Santner commanded selection for the England series with no wickets. As I've stated numerous times, I don't know who the best spinner of the wider group is and that's not the point. Somehow Patel started the summer as the leading wicket-taker in Sri Lanka and was then bumped out of the squad, only to end the summer back in that position as the main spinner.

Strange. Obviously when Boult and Southee are at their best in Aotearoa, there is little need for a fifth bowling option (whether that's a spinner or seamer doesn't matter) and Patel wasn't required to do damage. While I'm in the weeds of that tour to Sri Lanka; Boult took 8w @ 21.37avg and Southee took 7 @ 18.28avg to offer a strong case for them being the best bowlers of that series. The summer started with Boult and Southee at their best, albeit in a foreign land.

Tim Southee took 5-69 in Australia's second innings, his first five-wicket haul against the Aussies, as New Zealand were forced to bowl and bowl and bowl in ...

The summer ended in the same fashion vs India and while there is all the mayhem on the Blackcaps periphery, when playing together the core were solid. Touring Aotearoa means that you will face Boult averaging 24.44 (in Aotearoa) and Southee averaging 27.19, so up to you how you deal with that ... maybe some of Neil Wagner's 26.35avg also.

When required, Wagner dominated as the best kiwi bowler vs England and Australia. Remember that Boult only played one Test in each of these series and while there were blokes coming in and out of the team, in niggly scenarios etc, upon reflection there is immense clarity in the best bowlers for the Blackcaps performing throughout the summer. As much as I'm investing in the summer of transition and transformation, the best case is that this occurs with the stalwarts offering some stability and that was exactly the case with the bowlers.

Largely the case for Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson as well, although neither dipped into their legendary ways. Taylor averaged 39.90 with a century and two halfies in 12inns, while Williamson averaged 34.77 with the same century/halfies in 10inns. That's actually Williamson's lowest season average (summer time) since the season of 2012/13 and that should offer a nice splash of context around Williamson's excellence.

Not spectacular, super solid though and a similar vibe for Tom Latham who averaged 31.58 with a century and three halfies in 13inns. That trio was all good, doing their job and offering some level of reliability, leaving Tom Blundell as the best Blackcaps batsman of the summer; BJ Watling literally did nothing after his epic England series (17.50avg vs Australia, 7avg vs India) and Henry Nicholls averaged 19.25 this summer.

Blundell and Jamieson move forward as the big ol' winners of the Test summer and the summer of transition/transformation. They have the most clarity of the fringe lads moving forward as to how they fit into Blackcaps Test cricket and have demanded that clarity through their own performances. It shouldn't be a surprise that the Blackcaps still operate at their best when their core are in operation, together. Not only because they need those runs and wickets, it also presents a stable environment for others to be themselves and do what they do best.

This summer was heavy, absorbing in trying to roll through all the various pieces and dealing with the implications of changes etc. There was lovely simplicity in how it finished though and this leaves me intrigued, even fairly excited as there's a fresh vibe that has entered the Blackcaps Test team and that's come with the core leaders still present. That feels like a recipe for success and we move forward having benefited greatly from the summer of transition and transformation.

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Peace and love 27.