BBC SPORT | Cricket | England | England in NZ 2002

New Zealand can take some satisfaction from the last Test and the final outcome.

But it doesn't disguise the fact that for much of the series they were outplayed by an England team that was motivated focussed and well led.

That New Zealand was able to fight back from 19 for four on the first day in Auckland on a bowler friendly pitch says much about the resilience and fighting qualities that were displayed by both sides.

Drop-in critic

Black Cap captain Stephen Fleming took plenty of stick for his decision to bat first after winning the toss.

But he could happily sit back at the post match press conference satisfied that his critics were wrong.

The Auckland Test, like the first in Christchurch, was played on a portable pitch and, like the Jade Stadium track, it left some issues to ponder about the use of portables.

Trescothick is caught behind off Cairns
England suffered early on Christchurch's drop-in pitch
New Zealand might be satisfied that they won on the strip in Auckland but it was more good luck than anything else on a pitch that was far too seamer friendly.

In Christchurch, the bowlers gained favourable assistance on the first two days before the batsmen reaped their reward.

In Auckland, the quicker bowlers decided the game with only four overs of genuine spin bowling from Giles and Vettori.

If future games are to be played on portable pitches, which seems likely on New Zealand's dual purpose grounds, they need to offer a more realistic balance between bat and ball.

Umpiring standards also came under the spotlight with too many controversial decisions deflecting attention away from the game and the players.

While glib phrases are often used to say decisions don't have an affect on the result that's not always the case.

Some decisions in the second and third Test did change the course of both matches.

Individual brilliance

The lasting memories of this series though will be of some outstanding individual performances.

Hoggard's career-best figures in the first innings in Christchurch, supported by Caddick's commanding bowling in the second proved the difference between the two sides.

Nathan Astle
No superlatives remain to describe Astle's doubl;e century
Hussain, Thorpe and Flintoff added the batting touches that denied New Zealand a chance to dominate.

Caddick's six wickets in Wellington made him the only real contender for man of the match in the drawn second Test, making the 200 wicket mark a mere formality for the tall pace bowler in Auckland.

Darryl Tuffey offered significant evidence that he's a more than useful replacement for New Zealand's numerous injured bowlers, producing his best figures in a limited Test career.

But there wasn't an individual effort that can ever match the batting of Nathan Astle in the second innings in Christchurch.

There are few superlatives left that haven't been used to describe the brilliance of Astle's 222 in record time.

England end their New Zealand tour 2-3 losers in the one-day internationals and one-all in a Test series they might consider they should have won.