First, the sobering news. New Zealand’s Test squad will, in a month or so, gather in England to continue a rivalry in which – on that side of the world especially, success has been rare and fleeting.

Yes, the BLACKCAPS have won their share of ODIs in England but when it comes to Test cricket the history books do not make for happy reading. Sixteen visits since the first tour in 1931; 52 Tests on English soil - a grand total of four wins.

Indeed, for a long time the deeds of the New Zealand ‘49ers – the Walter Hadlee led side which drew all four Tests, was hailed as something of a triumph, and for good reason. Drawing a series in England was the best result New Zealand had achieved in Blighty (and would achieve for more than another 30 years).

The watershed moment for New Zealand? That finally arrived on the 1983 tour, when – although losing the four-match series, Geoff Howarth’s side managed the unthinkable at Headingly, winning by five wickets after somehow (given the inconsistencies of the pitch) amassing 377 in their first innings.

England, in contrast, folded twice as New Zealand’s line and length merchants dined out on the unforgiving surface – Lance Cairns snaring seven for 74 in the first innings, and Ewen Chatfield grabbing a five-wicket bag in the second. In the end, Jeremy Coney and Richard Hadlee saw their side past the target of 101, despite a fiery spell of fast bowling from Bob Willis.

New Zealand next toured England in 1986 and, although arguably in their pomp following a series win in Australia the previous year, were written off by the English – batsman Graham Gooch rather unwisely suggesting the Hadlee-led attack was like facing the World XI at one end, and the Ilford 2nd XI at the other.

It was a barb that Coney’s team never forgot – even printing Ilford 2nd XI tee-shirts to wear at net practices. And after an evenly fought draw in the first Test at Lord’s, New Zealand steam-rolled England in the second at Trent Bridge to win by eight wickets, and then negotiated a weather-affected draw at the Oval to clinch a historic, series win in England.

The tours of 1990 and 1994? Normal service resumed, sadly – 1-nil series defeats on both occasions. But then came the tour of 1999 when New Zealand, led by Stephen Fleming and coached by Steve Rixon, won a pulsating four-match series 2-1. An opening loss at Edgbaston was followed by a historic, maiden win at Lord’s; a draw at Old Trafford and then a wonderful, series clinching win at the Oval – featuring an outstanding all-round performance from Chris Cairns.

And since then? Well, New Zealand have struggled, really. They were beaten 3-nil in 2004; 2-nil in 2008 and, on their most recent tour of England in 2013, lost both Tests – the first at Lord’s by 170 runs, and the second at Leeds by 247 runs.

But now for the more optimistic news. When the BLACKCAPS return to England next month they will do so as one of the most improved Test outfits in world cricket. The 2014 year brought all sorts of milestones for Brendon McCullum’s side, including an unprecedented five Test wins; a series victory in the Caribbean and a wonderful win against Pakistan (and squared series) in the UAE. In an era in which Test wins on the road are as rare as hen’s teeth, the BLACKCAPS excelled. So then, is it too much to hope for the trend to continue in 2015? Of course it’s not.