The Black Caps are a blessing in disguise for Graeme Smith and his men. The quality differential between the New Zealanders and South Africa will, according to Proteas fans, be a stretch too far for Michael Vaughan and his English contenders.

South Africa recently had to face a similar gearshift on the subcontinent, when they had to go from Bangladeshi speed to the top-geared Indians. Something like going from first gear to overdrive, and the shift was not a comfortable one. The fun, fun, fun of whipping the Bangladeshi's did no favours to the form of the Proteas. Graeme Smith and his men really struggled to get up to speed and the Indian series was ultimately a draw, probably because of it.

Now, the minnows from the South Sea Islands provide this gearshift to the English squad, to the delight of the Proteas.

While Daniel Vettori might talk a great game, they are way, way below Proteas speed, as could clearly be seen in the whitewashing they were force-fed earlier this year in South Africa.

Going from Kyle Mills to Dale Steyn is like transitioning from a penny-farthing to an F22 Raptor strike jet, ie something you don't master overnight.

Within this equation lies the downfall of Vaughan and his men against the Proteas, and possibly these Southern Hemisphere antipodeans should share the spoils for this tag-team action.