Tour Diary: The Final Chapter

A week ago we pulled back to level the series at 2-2. We had a come a long way from the disappointing loss at Wellington and rediscovered the fighting spirit that we had so confidently displayed in India.

A highlight for all of us this week was the opportunity to spend a day with the Great Britain America's Cup Team in Auckland. Days like this offer a welcome break from continual travelling and match preparation of long tours. 'Goughie' entertained us all by scaling up the 40-foot mast of the racing yacht. Some of his Yorkshire teammates were keen to leave him there but Nasser thought he might just need him for the final game!

For the one-day squad this was the final chapter in what had been a chaotic road show of cricket played over seven weeks and two continents.

Dunedin on first impressions could easily have been mistaken for the Glens of Scotland with its cool climate and livestock-filled pastures. A heavy Celtic influence could also be seen in the town; we just hoped that we were not going to bump into William Wallace and his men at the game!

Students turned out in their thousands on Tuesday to watch our match, using fancy dress as a therapeutic break from their lectures. It's the first time I have seen 20 Elvises sitting next to a group of nuns, especially as the nuns were quaffing beer all day!

On a serious note, our preparation had gone very well and we were desperate to finish the tour with a series win. Again we decided to bat and put the Kiwis under pressure to chase a high first innings target. The early signs were that this was going to be the perfect wicket for an exciting one-day final.

Marcus Trescothick was unfortunate again to be dismissed for a low score. He had played so well in India and this highlights the ups and downs which players have to deal with. `Tres' really impressed me on the tour though, and I am sure that he is going to be a fine cricketer for England in the years to come.

Nasser and Owais Shah got into a position to take the control of the game as they both played very well to reach half centuries. Unfortunately we saw how one ball can change a game at this level, and Nasser's dismissal forced us to reassess our attack in the last 15 overs of the innings.

Scoring 220 was modest from our expectations of the wicket, but we knew that if we could take early wickets, the Kiwis could fold as they had done before during the summer. With better fortune in some of the lbw appeals, there is no doubt that we could have forced another nail-biting victory, but it was not to be. Instead, we were treated to a fantastic unbeaten century by Nathan Astle, which guided New Zealand to an emphatic victory.

This was very disappointing for all our squad, and it highlights the need to add more consistency to our game in the run up to the World Cup. With Nasser and Duncan Fletcher at the helm, I have no doubt that we will grow from this tour and the invaluable lessons which we have encountered. Looking forward, our home series against India and Sri Lanka this summer, followed by winter tour of Australia, will provide us the ideal preparation for our challenge on the World Cup next March.

Personally, this tour was a wonderful experience for me and despite not playing in New Zealand, I was delighted with my all-round contributions.

The long flight back home has left me a little tired but also gave me time to reflect on a fascinating period of my life. I now look forward to joining up with my Gloucestershire teammates on Monday and training hard for the demands of the new season. With our new signing and pace bowlers fit, we have the potential to put more silverware in the cabinet in 2002.

My goals remain unchanged; to develop my game further to make me an improved player for both Gloucestershire and England, and I look forward to the exciting challenges of the year ahead.