Cairns has been recognised by editors Francis Payne and Ian Smith as "showing a more mature attitude in his role in the side and having put previous controversies behind him".

The Almanack said with Cairns restored to fitness his bowling showed consistency throughout a long season which started in Zimbabwe a year ago and ended in Sri Lanka last July.

In the last season Cairns took 43 test wickets becoming the ninth player to top the 100 mark, and third to complete the 1000 run-100 wicket double. With father Lance they are the first father-and-son combination to take 100 wickets in test cricket.

The Almanack says that captain Fleming consolidated his captaincy position with three test wins during the season and he now has five wins to his credit, second only to Geoff Howarth.

The editors said that during the long season Fleming showed the ability to score centuries at international level on a more regular basis. "His hundreds this season have all been in pressure situations. What he needs now is greater support from his fellow batsmen."

Fleming's tally of 252 runs in a test against Sri Lanka (78 and 174 not out) has been only bettered by three other New Zealand batsmen. Apart from a lapse against Australia, Fleming was consistent.

In the field Fleming equalled the world record for catches in an innings and a match against Zimbabwe and also broke the test record for catches in a calendar year which had stood since 1921.

The Almanack's three promising players were all based in the South Island last season, Craig Cumming (Canterbury), Carl Bulfin (Blenheim, Central Districts) and Shayne O'Connor (Otago).

O'Connor, 24, showed much potential in his first season in the Black Caps line-up as a left-arm medium-fast bowler.

In six tests he captured 18 wickets and produced some outstanding deliveries such as the ball which dismissed Steve Waugh for 96 against Australia.