Three games into defending their World Test Championship and Aoteaora's Blackcaps are 0-2-1 with all three Tests played in anti-Aotearoa conditions. As I announced that Bangladesh would be Test match food for the Blackcaps in this tour - just as most touring Asian teams have been - I'm fairly chuffed to have this Bangladesh group grab a win on Aotearoa soil. For the Blackcaps, they are yet to win a game in this WTC cycle and suddenly have a competitive series to fix up.

Here's five key things to help break this all down...

Congrats Bangladesh

Players and staff in this touring party deserve plenty of aroha for the skill shown by Bangladesh, as well as their mana in how they went about competing. Usually we see such teams fold under the weight of seam nibble or how that seam nibble wasn't apparent for the tourists, especially as touring Asian teams tend to skew younger with a chance for seamers to shine. This Bangladesh outfit oozed belief and trust in each other's skills, which brings in the mana vibes as they were able to dominate when flowing with momentum and counter-attack when absorbed Blackcaps blows. As a kiwi, I'm eager to see how Bangladesh kick on from this moment and build towards being consistently competitive.

Bay Oval Pitch

Three Tests have been played at Bay Oval and it must now be fact that Bay Oval is Aotearoa's most spinny deck, also providing variable bounce and dry conditions found in Asian nations. This is why Rachin Ravindra played ahead of Daryl Mitchell and why Mitchell Santner played the two Bay Oval Tests prior, although the Blackcaps apparently thought there would be more juice for the seamers. Test cricket north of Lake Taupo between Christmas and March will usually be hot and dry. We don't really need to worry about Tests in Auckland or Whangarei here, this is about Seddon Park and Bay Oval. Bay Oval seems to be locked in for Test cricket at this time of year and if that's the case, expect spin.

And if we expect spin, Ajaz Patel should be in the squad. As soon as such spinny signs were evident, I reckon we all pondered what Patel would offer on this pitch and as I favoured a seam-heavy attack I am delivering this reminder for the future; Bay Oval is the spinny deck in Aotearoa. That's as long as NZC and the Blackcaps want it to be as we could see more favourable seam conditions dictated, but leaving Bay Oval to be its natural self will only result in spinny, slow-ish decks.

Don't Overreact

Bangladesh defeated Aotearoa in Aotearoa conditions most similar to Bangladesh, the least kiwi type of conditions. What is evident across the three Bay Oval Tests is an escalation to this result as Aotearoa defeated England by an innings and 65 runs with signs of such conditions in England using Jack Leach and Joe Root as well as Neil Wagner snaring 5 wickets in the second innings to seal victory alongside Santner's 3 wickets (swing/seam combined for 2w). Then against Pakistan, leggy Yasir Shah took 3w in the first innings and three Pakistan batters passed 50, with Fawad Alam hitting 102 runs. Pakistan still lost early wickets to seam and swing, but as the pitch dried out over the Test, Pakistan's middle order scored their runs.

Then we have Bangladesh enjoying the Bay Oval climax. Sure, we can point to the above paragraph and bemoan some planning/preparation ideas from the Blackcaps. This feels like a perfect storm though where conditions and a fizzing Bangladesh team combined forces for an epic underdog yarn.

Blackcaps Batters With Runs

Will Young (52), Devon Conway (122) and Henry Nicholls (75) scored first innings runs, then Young backed it up with 69 in the second alongside a 40 from Ross Taylor. We know what Nicholls and Taylor are all about, while we continue to learn about Young and Conway who are steadily ticking boxes. Young has four 50+ scores in his 10inns of Test cricket with 37.40avg and his last three Tests (two in India, Bay Oval vs Bangladesh) feature scores of 89, 2, 4, 20, 52 and 69.

That's three 50+ scores in three Tests with niggly kiwi batting conditions. Young looks extremely tidy up the top where his judgement ensures he leaves well, then Young (who bats #3-4 for CD) has the attacking shots to pounce on loose deliveries. Seeing Young develop into an opener is low key fabulous and the pure batting talent Young has displayed since making his First-Class debut in 2012 is now being showcased in Test cricket.

Conway keeps on Conway-ing with two hundies and two halfies in 8inns. That amounts to Conway passing 50 in every second innings of Test cricket and this is in tune with his domestic domination. Conway averages 43+ in all three domestic formats and 50+ in all three international formats.

Conway has a bit of Colin de Grandhomme about him though where I know what to expect from CDG and the thought of de Grandhomme batting to save a Test is kinda scary. Conway is all class and a run-scoring monster, while also dangling his bat far away from his pad and frisky with the shots he wants to play. That's what makes Conway excellent and what will look niggly every so often, also offering a development step.

The main point here is that Young and Conway are on the rise. Brendan McCullum pointed out in commentary that Young's next step was a hearty knock to help his team get a positive result as he was on his way to 69 in the second dig. Then Young tried to pull a delivery that kept low and his innings was over. Conway's two centuries have come in a drawn Tests and this loss - that's no fault of Conway's, just a note that Conway is yet to have his epic moment as well. We'd like the senior batters to take that responsibility, but BJ Watling had many such moments that developed his legendary status and this is the next level for two batters who clearly look talented enough for Test cricket.

What's Next For Hagley Oval?

Bay Oval and Hagley Oval feel like Aotearoa extremes. The Bay Oval extreme worked in Bangladesh's favour and one would imagine the Blackcaps are eager to ensure that Hagley's deck works in favour of the kiwis. Once the Blackcaps gauge the Hagley vibe, the selection choice between Ravindra and Mitchell will tell us a lot about the pitch. Aotearoa needs a win, their first win of this WTC cycle and it would be rude not to serve up a seamers paradise.

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Peace and love.