As the Black Caps lick their wounds after an embarrassing thrashing from a below-par Pakistan team, some of them are licking their fingers and counting the dosh they are worth according to the Indian Premier League.
Ross Taylor's ego must surely get a boost from knowing his value in the twenty/20 game is in the millions.
Meanwhile, Daniel Vettori's reaction to his worth is the same reaction you get from this man no matter what the circumstances - calm and composed.
His flat-line composure is starting to annoy me a little, as Obama's monotone response to every United States crisis and conflict situation does.
Can't these men show some passion and do a Jerry McGuire and flip out a little when the occasion calls for it? Come on, Vettori, lose your cool and show us you are angry and annoyed at your and your team's lack of form.
Don't give us measured responses and calculated strategies.
Use a few expletives if you so wish.
At least, that way, we'll know you are alive and care about how you and your team are performing (or under-performing, as the case may be).
The reaction from Taylor and Vettori when they found out what they went for in the IPL roster hardly registered on the Richter scale.
And their denial that the auction may have played a part in their poor performance against Pakistan indicates that they truly have lost sight of how bizarre their lives are.
If I was told I was worth over a million or even half a million, I'd be jumping off the walls and getting out at least $50,000 in cash to roll around in. I suppose they feel that if they act too elated about their IPL contracts, New Zealanders will accuse them of not caring about their country.
Surely we are savvy enough to understand how great it must be to know that you are valued as an athlete, and will have an opportunity to play in an exciting tournament with some of the best international players around? At the other end of the scale in terms of reactions, two cricketers who are fizzing about their place in the IPL are Jesse Ryder and Nathan McCullum. Ryder must have felt a little rejected when, like a chest of old drawers at the antiques roadshow, nobody wanted him on day one of the auction.
Risky Ryder, however, was snapped up by new franchise Pune Warriors for close to US$150,000 ($NZ198,000) on day two along with Nathan McCullum. who sold for US$100,000.
Ryder's agent, Aaron Klee, has done a great job of depicting him as not motivated by money. That isn't hard to believe when you consider the regular falls from grace and form that Ryder has had during his short career. He seems more motivated by having a great time, both on and off the pitch, and regularly puts himself in situations that could damage his body, mind and reputation.
Apparently, he is a guy who was brought up with nothing and thus has low expectations of his potential. Unlike Vettori, who is a bit of an ice king, Ryder wears his heart on his sleeve and reveals his human vices and flaws.
I like that about him.
New Zealand sports people tend to be so reserved and muted in their responses that it is uninspiring. In a rare show of honesty and candidness from a Kiwi, Nathan McCullum admitted he had nervously followed the auction on the internet until 1am, not sure if anyone would bid for him.
Now that is the kind of honesty that will win over New Zealand fans.
Less frigidity and more frankness off the pitch, and maybe you guys will rediscover your reasons for playing cricket and put an end to the losing streak.
