The plaudits have been flowing for the Blackcaps after they clinched a remarkable series win in Pakistan overnight (NZ time).
New Zealand Cricket selector Gavin Larsen was one of the many Kiwis glued to their screens in the late hours of Friday night as New Zealand successfully completed chased an improbable third test victory, one that Larsen believes is among the finest in the nation's history.
"I think it really stacks up," Larsen told Brendan Telfer on Radio LIVE's Saturday Sport. "It's a magnificent result for the lads over there.
"I've watched a lot of cricket in and around New Zealand over the years and I think what's happened over those three test matches is certainly right up there.
"It's always difficult to actually rank performances but make no mistake about it, this is a very special one."
While Larsen gushed over the performance of "genius" captain Kane Williamson, it was debutant spinner Will Somerville who most impressed the former international medium-pacer.
The faith shown in the 34-year-old accountant was richly rewarded as he spun his way to a seven-wicket effort, after being plucked from relative obscurity.
"We watched him early on and were very impressed with him playing for Auckland.
"Great character, very measured individual. He just has a very, very accurate and metronomic sort of way of bowling.
Larsen was confident his style would work well in the spin-friendly conditions of Abu Dhabi, where Somerville could take advantage of his height by generating some extra bounce with his turn.
That played out in timely fashion as Sommerville flummoxed the Pakistani batsmen through their second innings, securing some vital wickets to put his side on the road to a famous win.
"He turns the ball which is a key and that was a big part of the selection…we knew the conditions over there would suit his bowling."
Somerville is the latest addition to a growing crop of quality Kiwi spinners, the likes of which Larsen can scarcely recall.
"It's great. I don’t think we've ever had five spinners that are all putting their hand up at the same time, and a good variety too.
Mitchell Santner is due back from his arm injury in the next couple of weeks, while Todd Astle is about a month away from a return to full fitness.
With Ajaz Patel and Ish Sodhi also waiting in the wings, Larsen and his cohorts may have a welcome problem on their hands when they look to pick a side to take on Sri Lanka in the first test, starting next Saturday in Wellington.
"There are some riches there, but in NZ conditions it's a totally different situation. Probably a selection quandary that we'll have to work our way through.
The Blackcaps touch down in NZ on Saturday morning, when they'll have a brief few days of respite before reassembling on Wednesday to prepare for Sri Lanka.
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