By Mark Geenty of NZPA

Sydney, Dec 25 NZPA - A year of upheaval off the pitch and ordinary results on it left New Zealand cricket eager to turn the page to January 1.

A coaching change, the retirement of their highest test runscorer, the irksome absence of their premier fast bowler and a flurry of Twenty20 defections left New Zealand's test side short on experience and splashing at the deep end.

They played 14 tests in 2008, and by year's end sank to eighth in the world rankings after a 0-0 series draw at home with seventh-ranked West Indies.

Only Bangladesh, a team New Zealand struggled to beat 1-0 away thanks to captain Daniel Vettori's heroics, sat below them.

Terrorism and Twenty20 had the biggest impact in a turbulent year for cricket.

A series of blasts saw Pakistan deemed unsafe to host the Champions Trophy and its status as a touring venue remained in limbo, while the November horrors of Mumbai saw the lucrative Twenty20 Champions League cancelled and England fly home. They returned under unprecedented security.

India sparked the Twenty20 revolution and the tremors were felt in New Zealand whose depth was tested most.

After Brendon McCullum repaid his $US700,000 bid price for Kolkata in the new Indian Premier League (IPL) with a dazzling 158 on opening night, he and senior teammates sparked debate when New Zealand Cricket (NZC) allowed them to arrive late for the England tour.

Meanwhile a swag of fringe internationals and recently retired frontliners -- Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan and Lou Vincent among them -- cashed in on the 'rebel' Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Fast bowler Shane Bond also signed with NZC's blessing, on the understanding he could continue representing his country. But India's powerful board applied pressure and demanded all ICL players be banned.

It was one of several tricky episodes for new NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan, who complied, leaving a frustrated Bond with wads of cash, but a 17-test, 67-ODI career unfulfilled.

There were other significant farewells. New Zealand's most successful test captain Stephen Fleming hung up his black cap after the Napier test against England, when he ticked his career average up over 40 and ended with a record 7172 runs from 111 tests spanning 14 years.

Coach John Bracewell re-signed with English county Gloucestershire, ending a colourful five-year stint after New Zealand's 0-2 test series hammering in Australia in November. His ODI record of 61 wins from 106 matches, and a World Cup semifinal, earned a solid pass mark but 13 wins from 40 tests -- seven of those against Zimbabwe and Bangladesh -- left questionmarks over the side's progress in the longer form.

Successful New South Wales coach Matthew Mott was hot favourite to take over, but his late withdrawal opened the way for Englishman Andy Moles, who won the domestic title with Northern Districts in his first year.

Back-to-back three-test series against England were the focal point of 2008 and they followed similar scripts after an early period of New Zealand dominance.

The year's highlight was New Zealand's 189-run win in the first test in Hamilton. Ross Taylor's maiden test century and Vettori's 88 earned a 122-run first innings lead, then pacemen Chris Martin and Kyle Mills helped skittle England for 110. But England bounced back in Wellington and Napier to give Fleming a disappointing farewell.

In England, a Jacob Oram century saved a draw at Lord's, then Taylor's magnificent 154 not out and back-to-back five-wicket hauls from Vettori had them at short odds at Old Trafford. But a stunning second innings collapse for 114 against spinner Monty Panesar saw them tumble to a six-wicket defeat, and they never recovered at Trent Bridge as paceman James Anderson inspired an innings victory.

The tourists showed character to bounce back 3-1 in the ODI series after a heavy defeat in Durham. One of the year's enduring tv images was Vettori and McCullum bellowing at England captain Paul Collingwood from the players' balcony as they scrambled a one-wicket victory at The Oval. Collingwood had refused to recall Grant Elliott when he was run out after colliding with bowler Ryan Sidebottom, earning him a roasting from the English press.

It got ugly on the August tour of Bangladesh when New Zealand arrived underdone and the hosts snatched a shock 2-1 victory in the ODI series before Vettori guided them home in the tests.

Vettori led the way throughout the year with varying levels of backup. He was one of just six bowlers to top 50 test wickets, snaring 54 at 26.12. He also scored 672 runs at 35.36 and became just the seventh member of the 3000-run, 250-wicket club.

There was enough emerging playing talent to offer hope for 2009.

Hard-hitting Jesse Ryder starred in the home ODIs but cost himself an England tour spot when he cut his arm on the louvre window of a locked bar toilet. He reined in his legendary social habits and promised plenty in his first six tests, averaging 49.33 including four half-centuries.

Iain O'Brien went from 30-something journeyman to first-picked paceman with 38 test wickets at 21.57 for the year, and also showed some literary flair as the only player with a daily blog which gained a widespread following.

Teenager Tim Southee lived up to selector Sir Richard Hadlee's billing as a "special talent" when he took five for 55 and made 77 not out on test debut against England in Napier; then bagged the player of the series award in the 3-1 ODI series win in England.

He also made a splash in Brisbane when he dispatched Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich and Ricky Ponting on the first morning of the first test, but New Zealand couldn't capitalise.

Daniel Flynn bounced back from a tooth-shattering bouncer from Anderson at Old Trafford to cement the test No 3 spot, and was cruelly denied a maiden test century against West Indies in Dunedin by the experimental referral system. On 95, he was adjudged lbw from a television replay after initially being given not out.

The three-strike referral system sparked more controversy in Napier when McCullum challenged his own caught behind decision as New Zealand eyeballed 312 to win. TV umpire Mark Benson didn't budge, despite replays clearly showing a gap between bat and ball.

At NZC headquarters, Vaughan undertook a major restructure and staff cleanout. He appointed former test paceman Geoff Allott to the new general manager of cricket role, but attracted criticism for a lack of communication with five-year New Zealand team manager Lindsay Crocker when the courting of his potential replacement, former rowing boss Craig Ross, became public.

NZC ended the year in financial health, and announced a profit of $2.9 million at its annual meeting.

Vaughan secured a $US50 million broadcasting deal with Sony Entertainment television, a new and improved clothing deal with Canterbury and a shirt sponsor in Dubai-based DEC, thereby increasing player salaries as Indian riches beckon.

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