I'm not being rewarded for my faith.
The reason I haven't posted in 12 weeks is that there really hasn't been much news from NZ Cricket-Land.

Well, nothing that I want to acknowledge anyway.

First of all, losing to Bangladesh in an ODI.  I thought that was the format we were supposed to be good at.

Then losing to NSW-B.  I have to live in this bankrupt and decrepit state guys, don't make the experience worse by losing to its cricketing representatives.

And finally capitulating to Australia.  This last point wouldn't have seemed so bad a few days ago, but being the cocktease she is, the Black Caps got my hopes up by bowling well and dismissing AUS for 214 in the first innings.  Of course I should have realised that in the past year of test matches, it's always been the batting that's the problem, not the bowling.

This all sounds pretty dreadful and difficult to deal with, right?  WRONG. 

I am a Black Caps supporter.  Painful disappointment is simply a baseline.  Only truly agonising events like the 4th day of the 2nd Test vs England leave scars.  And even then they're only covering older scars, so I know eventually this scar will inevitably be replaced by something equally horrible in the future.

But there is always hope.  Hope has a name.  His name is Jesse Ryder.