By Chris Barclay of NZPA

Auckland, Dec28 NZPA - As Daniel Vettori delayed the inevitable at the Sinhalese Sports Club in August with New Zealand's solitary century of a grim test cricket experience in Sri Lanka, it was tempting to again label him as the quintessential one-man team.

As captain, stock bowler, most reliable batsman and -- at that time -- selector-in-waiting, his was the only defiance displayed from a side that generally needed a weather intervention to survive the five full days of a test.

Demeaning the contributions of teammates can be inappropriate in a team sport, but when the bespectacled 30-year-old's role is analysed, Vettori's exalted status can not be questioned.

By the end of a turbulent year - off the field, more so than on - Vettori was on a pedestal, having also inherited the responsibilities of selector and surrogate coach.

All he needs now are medical qualifications to staff the sick bay, and a heavy vehicle licence to navigate the boys from hotel to ground.

Stephen Fleming wielded considerable influence during his 11 years as captain, but his power barely illuminates the grid compared to his successor.

Not only does test history's most prolific left-arm spinner generally determine whether his side is competitive, Vettori's power base is unparalleled, as evidenced by the demise of affable English coach Andy Moles 11 months into his three-year tenure.

Moles' termination after a challenging tour of Sri Lanka -- and a surprising finals appearance at October's Champions Trophy in South Africa -- emphasised the current set-up's direction is determined by Vettori.

A day after Moles walked came revelations Brendon McCullum was no longer the official vice-captain either.

Of course, McCullum remains the go-to guy if and when the main man has work done on his wonky left shoulder.

A successor for Moles and the scope of that role remains a mystery -- and given New Zealand's year-ending performance against Pakistan an appointment may not be as vital as first anticipated.

New Zealand Cricket expect to have a head coach/overseer in place before Bangladesh arrive in February. It seems a role with limited appeal -- after all, Moles was selected after a number of higher profile and highly sought after candidates declined.

Fortunately, Vettori hardly appears over burdened by his multi-tasking.

By winning the first Pakistan test in Dunedin, a "coach-less" New Zealand achieved what eluded Moles during his nine-test tenure and, had rain not intervened in Napier, a rare series win was materialising on the final afternoon.

Naturally Vettori performed a pivotal role at McLean Park, promoting himself to No 6 and crafting 134 in his usual ungainly style -- his third test century of the year and fifth overall.

In what should be a source of embarrassment to the specialist batsmen -- Ross Taylor exempted -- Vettori ended the year averaging 59.92 from eight tests with three hundreds and the same number of 50s.

His career-best 140 in at Colombo's SSC may have been in vain, but his 99 in Dunedin was instrumental in New Zealand winning their first test against a nation other than Bangladesh in 15 attempts.

While the manner of Moles' exit and the marginalisation of selector Glenn Turner -- he is no longer able to comment on selection issues -- might have caused disquiet in some circles, there is no doubt Vettori's on-field deeds justify his omnipotence.

Apart from his batting fortitude, Vettori became the test cricket's leading left arm tweaker when overhauling Derek Underwood's 297 wickets during the second test in Colombo. There he also joined the 3000-run/300 wicket allrounders club, the eighth inductee.

Yet for all his statistical satisfaction from 2009, there are some unsavoury figures that prove for all his talent and tenacity the job of New Zealand cricket's `miracle worker' still sits vacant.

A shared three-match series against an enigmatic Pakistan side forced to surrender home advantage due to the uncertain security status of their homeland could not gloss over what was a disappointing year in the five-day arena.

From 10 tests played, Dunedin witnessed the only triumph. Five were drawn, generally due to the weather, while Pakistan squared their series with a thumping win at the Basin Reserve. The two West Indies tests ended in a 0-0 stalemate; India then arrived to complete a perfunctory 1-0 win from three tests, rain sparing New Zealand's blushes in Wellington. Sri Lanka strolled to a 2-0 victory.

New Zealand lies seventh on the ICC's test rankings, ahead of the West Indies and Bangladesh, and until the batting unit finds consistency -- and a bowler of the ability of the now-retired Shane Bond recovers -- they seem destined for lower echelon obscurity.

Bond, 34, rolled back the years in Dunedin, his eight-wicket comeback to test cricket a reminder of what an earnest bowling attack had been missing in his two-year absence. Typically, in keeping with his chequered medical history, four days later Bond withdrew with an abdominal tear, then decided his days as a test player were over.

Jesse Ryder should be back for Bangladesh, then Australia's visit in March. He may not resemble a finely honed modern-day cricketer but Ryder's bearing is as important as Bond's. It might have been a breakthrough year for Ryder had injury not blighted his involvement after a classy maiden test century, then a double ton against India.

He was sorely missed in the shared Chappell-Hadlee Trophy one-day series, managed only one game in the ICC World Twenty20 and was also invalided out of the Champions Trophy.

New Zealand were expected to fare better in the shorter versions of the game, though it took a surge to the Champions Trophy decider -- where they were beaten by Australia -- for the world's fourth-ranked ODI team to fashion a moderate 50 percent win record in 2009.

The Twenty20 format was also disappointing. New Zealand arrived in England for the WorldT20 full of expectation, they left having beaten only Scotland and Ireland. Again New Zealand had a 50:50 win/loss record over the year.

It seems inevitable the country's elite players will have ample opportunity to hone their Twenty20 skills next year and beyond, though they might not cash in as often as they'd like.

As much as the purists baulk, the three-hour slogfest's popularity is growing exponentially on the back of the Indian Premier League.

While players often talk about test cricket being the pinnacle those words might sound increasingly hollow ring as the lure of the rupee, $US and now the pound takes hold.

In July six players were slow to sign NZC central contracts because Australia's tour overlaps with the third edition of the IPL, a scheduling clash that leaves McCullum, Vettori, Ryder and Taylor several thousand dollars out of pocket. Jacob Oram faced a similar predicament until he retired from tests.

Vettori said ideally there would be a dedicated window for the IPL, though that is unlikely.

Players have already turned down the opportunity to turn out in Australia's Twenty20 Big Bash next month because it clashed with the domestic T20 competition.

England's T20 county league now looms as another source of income between June and August though it clashes with New Zealand's one day international tour of Sri Lanka, which NZC demands takes precedence.

With players keen to maximise their earning potential, there is potential for the likes of a McCullum or Taylor to decline a central contract and instead try and represent New Zealand on a freelance basis.

NZC and the players' association negotiate the next rouind of central contracts next month -- expect Vettori to have a sizeable say.

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