hmm a lot of good points - i'll see if i can offer some useful comments to some of them . . .

firstly the itinery and the two-test 'series': it sucks i know. partly a product of NZC's (commendable) desire to host two teams every summer and partly a product of NZRFU's (unmentionable) desire to reduce cricket in New Zealand to a mere hobby for nancy boys who can't hack a 'real sport'. rugby season now extends from feb through to nov and, as you are no doubt aware, most grounds in NZ are dual purpose (Carisbrook in Dunedin is now of the itineray as the Otago RFU refused to allow cricket access to the ground).

also - one dayers are played first because a) they attract more crowds over the christmas holiday period, b) as 'that' tour by india showed a few years back the weather is too unstable in dec/jan to guarantee five days cricket - let alone a decent two weeks or so to prepare a pitch.

umm what were other people talking about . . .