I only saw Iain O’Brien’s wickets on the highlights package last night, but I understand his spell was a five over highlights package. This was not the battling into the wind O’Brien; the toiler punching above his weight. This was a very good spell of pace bowling. He looked to be surpassing the 140km/hr mark pretty much every ball. He was aggressive, questioning with every delivery.

I think there is one reason for his current success- confidence. O’Brien is a bit different. Not only is he NZ cricket’s only real presence in the blogsphere, he is clearly an emotional player. We have become used to the serenity and elegance of Stephen Fleming and the studiousness and seriousness of Daniel Vettori. O’Brien’s emotions may have got on top of him a bit in the past, but some success, and perhaps more importantly some appreciation and credit from the media and the public have him firing.

But it is his personality traits that are ultimately ending O’Brien’s career while he is at the top. Its a great pity for the New Zealand cricket public, desperate to see some kind of spark in the bowling attack. But for O’Brien it is no doubt the best thing. Not only will he have the family life he desires, but he will end his career on an absolute high, playing his very best cricket. In another scenario he might have a mixed series against the Aussies, play a bit next season and fade out.

This way round he and we get the brief pleasure of a player who has found his place- on the field and off, and he gets to be the most unlikely of heroes, finishing on top for once. You can’t begrudge him that.