So why the difference? Same men, same coach, same team batting first and while ultimately the same result, it would be a one eyed critic that could not concede to the difference between the two sides being microscopic in Wellington.

New Zealand, inside the Westpac Stadium ‘cake tin’ found the mental missing ingredient and baked up an altogether more intense aura. They had a touch of swagger blended with bites of brilliance and but for a young Australian with a golden arm, may well have been heading to Christchurch with the prospect of taking the Chappell-Hadlee honours.

The difference between the two sides (New Zealand Saturday and New Zealand Wednesday) was surely mental. Four days is not long enough for techniques to improve or flaws to be eliminated. Perhaps the scolding critics touched a cranial nerve, or perhaps John Bracewell calling into question the players ‘mental techniques' was the catalyst.

Whatever the spark, a raging fire was ignited in the Black Caps camp and they took to their task on Wednesday with an altogether more confident stride in their steps.

An Irish folk saying goes that “you never plough a field if you only turn it over your mind” however, the mind can assist like a well crafted technique or debilitate like a torn hamstring, depending on the thoughts that run through it.

Increasingly, professional sports teams are employing the services of sports psychologists to ensure that players approach tournaments and matches with their head space full of the most positive thoughts possible.

New Zealand Cricket has Gilbert Enoka, who carries the mantle of ‘Mental Skills Coach’, and I would suggest that Mr Enoka has been gainfully employed since the Auckland caning.

The Psychologist role should be an increasingly valued member of the coaching staff of any team wishing to extract the maximum performance from its members.

In Wellington, the Black Caps commenced a run chase with brains full of belief that they were good enough to at least get within a whisker of the World Champions.

Come Christchurch, with another few sessions with Gilbert under their belts and we may see that belief carry the New Zealanders into a victory in the final game of the series.

Mental psychology is one of the most curious aspects of sport performance, but it is definately crucial.

Consider the reverse- Brett Lee took 3 for 5 at Auckland, and 1 for 85 at Wellington. How bizzare.

Sometimes, Chris, the problem plaguing New Zealand over past few months suggests another malady to me, besides the mental aspect: maybe they need a few more specialists to be brought in.
Illustration: Maybe someone in the mould of VVS Laxman may not be that bad for NZ, even if it is a slight compromise to the fielding.

I don't know if it just me, but I really think a humbling innings defeat or massive one day rout ala Auckland against Australia in it self is a massive mental education. I've noticed a curious trend , that every side touring down under and getting beaten, has subsequently gone ahead and done better things. England, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India -who were beaten in the ODIs only- being examples.

the performance in the second ODI is just batsman shooting from the hip, it cannot be consistent, anyways ODIs are pretty random.

It's funny that I was just replying to the Glenn McGrath blog on this website, when I came across this blog.

Yes, it is a mental thing, and I DO feel that the Kiwis fancied themselves winning the first game considering there was no McGrath, Gillespie or Warne coming down at them, and Lee (whom I think of as a FANTASTIC bowler) has in the previous times blown hot&cold against them. But when the bench strength, or the fresh blood responded to the Aussie selector's challenge so wonderfully, and probably in the Kiwis' mindset un-expectedly, it would have been a wake-up call.

I think the Kiwis realised (for whatever reason) that the new bowlers are good, Brett Lee is fast but playable, and if they stick to their plans, they can make a game out of things.

As soon as I saw McCullum's comment ahead of the 2nd game, inferring that the Kiwi's were scared of Brett Lee, I guessed that some prepared reverse psychology was going on in the public domain.

Not only did the Kiwi's lift themselves for that 2nd game, they had a concerted campaign to encourage the Aussies to take their psychological feet off the pedals.

That "trick" only failed to work by 2 runs. It was surely worth the try.