Sports Call - Advocates for scrapping the toss in test cricket will be smiling as they look back on the Black Caps' last two series.
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Outplayed and overwhelmed in Australia, the New Zealand side produced an emphatic response against India.
Based purely on recent results, neither outcome could have been predicted.
Black Caps fans were full of optimism when their team headed across the Tasman in December. Unbeaten in seven series and the No. 2 test side in the world, the Kiwi side were expected to be competitive, maybe better.
The same went for India, who arrived on New Zealand shores with an even more imposing recent resume. Fifteen wins from their previous 17 series, going back almost five years, and unsurprisingly test cricket's top-ranked team.
What followed, in both instances, were series sweeps for the home side.
Less familiar with the ball whizzing past their whiskers and clattering high into the keeper's gloves, the Black Caps struggled with the constant diet of pace and bounce dished up for them in Australia.
Far from farcical but certainly conditions that suited four Australian fast bowlers capable of speed consistently in excess of 140km/h.
Returning to Kiwi shores for their next test series, New Zealand's seamers were given a similar platform to success.
The green, green grass of home was once again a happy place as the Black Caps bowlers teased, tempted and, at times, tormented the Indian batsmen with swing and seam.
Neither series result should significantly diminish the standing of the New Zealand or Indian teams in test cricket. Both remain very good red-ball outfits.
But the last step to greatness is always the longest, and credible and consistent away wins at test match level are without doubt cricket's Everest.
Some believe metres have been added to the mountain in recent times, with home advantage going beyond acceptable levels thanks to increasingly favourable pitches.
In 2018, South African skipper Faf du Plessis and former Australian captains Ricky Ponting and Steve Waugh were among those to support the removal of the coin toss.
The calls were ultimately unanswered by the sport's rulemakers but are returning with the addition of the Test Championship, where every match counts for more.
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In theory, an even balance between bat and ball is desirable. The more balanced, the more reflective the outcome should be of the respective teams.
Different conditions around the world, though, are part of cricket's fabric. Eliminate that element too much and it will be without perhaps its most unique feature.
Doing away with the toss definitely comes with its merits. But maybe the answer to the issue lies in other areas.
Give teams a better chance to prepare for the challenge of foreign conditions. Make warm-up matches and the provision of good practice mandatory, and give teams more time to arrive and adjust.
They are stipulations the Black Caps can probably relate to, given the first test of their 3-0 thrashing in Australia came just 11 days after the completion of a home series against England.
But it's a situation without a silver bullet.
For now, the New Zealand side will simply be happy their impressive efforts in two matches against India have allowed them to quickly turn their test fortunes around.
Ahead of another trip across the ditch for the Chappell-Hadlee one-day series, it's exactly the confidence boost the Black Caps needed.
