There is no doubt that these players will help them to tide over the transitionary period that that their cricket is going through at the moment. Williamson, McIntosh, Southee, Mckay and Hopkins will surely be heard of more often in the future.

Amongst these young players, one to impress most was left arm pace bowler Andy McKay. He had to wait till the third Test of the series to make his debut. From what we saw of him, he has all the attributes of a good bowler in the making. This is not to say that he will be another Richard Hadlee or Shane Bond.  But if he continues to idolize them, he will certainly go places.

Talking of idolizing great players, especially contemporary icons, is concerned; one could discern a slight misconception. Andy McKay showed out to be a very modest young man when he captured the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar as his very first in Test cricket. He was rightly beside himself with glee. But did he have to apologies to the Indian public for dismissing the little master and consequently deprive him of the chance of scoring his landmark 50th Test century

McKay should have celebrated that prize scalp without being apologetic about it, for, had he not earned and deserved it?

Cricket, like any other sports, is a hard fought game. With all the gentlemanliness attendant on it, no quarter is asked for nor any given.  He ought to have taken pride in the fact that he had made it difficult and eventually ended Tendulkar's hopes of achieving that stupendous feat. Yes, the big crowd had come to see their hero reach the landmark. But like Sachin himself, they did not want that to be offered on a platter to him.

It is the ruthless pursuit of success and the killer-instinct that goes with it that separates the boys from the men. McKay himself will soon realize that. He must have been moved by the great disappointment that he saw all round him.  His remark may show him out to be a fine sportsman. But in these days of fierce competition, he is a part of the team that wants always to make life difficult for the rival players.

Even as he savors that great batsman's wicket as his very first in Test cricket, he will rightfully consider it as a stepping-stone to a successful career in the game. He must value it as much as he believes that Sachin himself would value his 50th century whenever it comes.