Getting a good opening partnership going has been vital to all the successful teams in One-Day International cricket and last night's 153-run effort against Zimbabwe was a start.

Now the need is for consistency from which New Zealand can entertain its plan to be a force on the ODI stage.

Nathan Astle may have confirmed his status as the finest one-day opener New Zealand has produced when moving into the 4000 run bracket at WestpacTrust Stadium, but he would probably give up 1000 of those runs to have a permanent partner at the other end.

Since New Zealand scored 155 for the opening stand against Pakistan at Mohali in 1996/97 in the early days under Steve Rixon as coach, and Nathan Astle was partnered by Bryan Young, the roll of opening partnerships has suggested New Zealand has been wandering in the darkness.

In that time Astle has had partnerships with: Craig Spearman (19 times), Matt Horne (19), Llorne Howell (12), Chris Nevin (7), Bryan Young (6), Mathew Sinclair (4), Chris Cairns (2), Matthew Bell (2), Stephen Fleming (2), Matt Hart (1), Daniel Vettori (1).

And when Astle hasn't been available, there have been four Horne/Young partnerships, two Spearman/Young and one Horne/Twose.

Partners tried for Astle since May 1997, in chronological order (including those re-tried, may also include those who had partnered him before May 1997):

Bryan Young, Craig Spearman, Chris Cairns, Matthew Horne, Craig Spearman (#2), Llorne Howell, Matthew Horne (#2), Llorne Howell (#2), Bryan Young (#2), Matthew Bell, Matthew Horne (#3), Matthew Hart, Matthew Horne (#4), Craig Spearman (#3), Mathew Sinclair, Chris Nevin, Chris Cairns (#2), Daniel Vettori, Chris Nevin (#2), Stephen Fleming, Craig Spearman (#4), Chris Nevin (#3), Mathew Sinclair (#2).

In that time New Zealand's record has been:

Played (or scheduled) 88, won 33, lost 44, abandoned 10, tied 1.

© CricInfo