Auckland - Plaudits flowed everywhere after New Zealand's second cricket Test win over South Africa on Monday, the most notable being whether this can become the greatest Black Caps side ever.

Captain Stephen Fleming was at his poker-faced best as the praise was heaped on man of the match Chris Martin, Chris Cairns and Scott Styris who were the three stars of New Zealand's nine-wicket win.

And it was easily forgotten that New Zealand's two big guns Nathan Astle and Shane Bond were both absent through injury, and racing to be fit for the May tour of England.

It raised the exciting prospect of Astle batting at four with Styris relegated a place, and Bond adding another bowling strike weapon alongside Martin.

'There were a lot of guys who performed under par in this Test match and want to make amends'

"That's a nice scenario to have, having quality players sitting on the sidelines," said Fleming, trying desperately not to get carried away with his 20th Test win in charge, with the final Test still to be drawn or won in Wellington starting on Friday.

Next comes the three-Test series in England, with New Zealand shooting for back to back series wins there, followed by two Tests in Australia later this year and a return series at home against the world champions in a year's time.

A series win over South Africa will boost New Zealand's Test ranking further and come next year the lofty heights of No 2 (in the world ranking) could be threatened.

Former Test wicketkeeper Ian Smith, a member of the dominant New Zealand side of the 1980s, remarked during his television commentary that the current team could lay claim to being the best ever.

While Fleming would not buy into rash predictions at just 1-0 up in the series, he was clear where a lot of the praise should go.

Coach John Bracewell chalked up another triumph with his first Test win, having won nine of 11 one-day internationals against Pakistan and South Africa this year.

The no-nonsense former gravedigger and confrontational Test offspinner of the 1980s has hit all the right buttons with the current crop, and notably has extracted the best out of Cairns who became the sixth member of Test cricket's 3000-run, 200-wicket club on Monday.

"He just brings a lot of knowledge, he's a wonderful guy to have around, and we're just enjoying him. He's galvanised what we had already and given us a new direction," Fleming said of Bracewell.

"That was what the team was waiting for and they have responded very positively."

The teams reconvene at Wellington's Basin Reserve on Friday, with South Africa captain Graeme Smith Monday joking that the pitch was probably already being given a cut and roll.

A flat, batsman's paradise will be the order of the day for New Zealand, with a draw enough to seal the series.

Fleming though said the attacking cricket would not go away after Styris' 170 and Cairns' 158, both outstanding knocks, and top half-centuries from Craig McMillan and Jacob Oram.

"That's all we want is the best wicket with pace and bounce."

The big question is whether South Africa's weary tourists can lift for a final match after 16 months on the road.

Smith was defiant and tried to rally his troops for one final push, with their bowling attack remaining their biggest headache after they were hammered for 595 by New Zealand's batsmen.

"We remember being in England being 2-1 up last year, losing that last game and how much it hurt. We felt like we had gained nothing out of that series," Smith said.

"There were a lot of guys who performed under par in this Test match and want to make amends." -
Sapa-NZPA