De Grandhomme, Southee lead in whitewash

Colin de Grandhomme (two matches, nine wickets at 12.22, 98 runs at 32.66)
That rare Test cricketer whose batting average may be higher than the number of words he speaks in a day, it was with his floating lotus petal deliveries that "the big man" made his mark, claiming 6 for 41 at Hagley Oval. He won't always have such friendly surfaces to bowl on, but his cultured hitting will also be more effective on flatter tracks. Also seems an attitude-appropriate addition to this New Zealand team, who may be keen to get their Nobel Peace Prize campaign back on track after the exit of Brendon McCullum.

Tim Southee (two matches, 13 wickets at 16.38)
Often, it's Tim Southee's big-swinging shtick that defines home series, and although he did not get much movement in the air against Pakistan, there was plenty off the seam to put batsmen in trouble. He claimed crucial wickets at Hagley Oval, then when partner-in-crime Trent Boult was ruled out of the Hamilton Test, took Boult's customary share of the wickets in the second game as well. An impressive return from injury.

Ross Taylor (two matches, 150 runs at 75)
Beset by bad form, McCullum "revelations" and a pterygium in his eye, Taylor needed a good Test in this series, and he got it in Hamilton. His first-innings salvo punctured the Pakistan bowlers' momentum, and the second innings-ton virtually pushed the opposition out of the match. His was the only triple-figure score of the series.

Jeet Raval (two matches, 148 runs at 49.33)
The latest batsman charged with breaking the Great New Zealand Openers' Curse, Jeet Raval struck a composed tone at the crease in Christchurch, and inspired confidence in the slip cordon (though he did drop one of the eight chances that came his way through the series). Strong through the leg side, with decent judgement outside off, he may already have done enough to earn a stable place through the long home summer.

Neil Wagner (two matches, nine wickets at 18.11)
Curtly Ambrose had a brutal bouncer. Jeff Thompson's short ball endangered lives. Neil Wagner possibly bowls more short deliveries than either of them, but his bouncers are more annoying than menacing - like an insurance salesman who won't stop calling at strange hours. Still, he has become the second-fastest New Zealand bowler to 100 Test scalps, and he is often talked about like some kind of Platonic ideal of a team man, so who could possibly argue?

Trent Boult (one match, five wickets at 15.2)
Claimed the key wicket of Azhar Ali in the second innings at Hagley Oval, and was in general a tirelessly accurate performer in that match. He had played 44 Tests in a row until a knee injury forced him out of the Hamilton game.

BJ Watling (two matches, 82 runs at 82, 10 catches)
Not a lot was required of him with the bat in this series, but BJ Watling batted with the tail with workmanlike diligence. He was also immaculate behind the stumps. That he does not put on that wicketkeeper's expression of gobsmacked disbelief when an appeal is turned down, is a minor grouse.

Kane Williamson (two matches, 120 runs at 30)
An assured 61 in the chase of 105 at Hagley Oval was Kane Williamson's biggest batting contribution, though his second-innings 42 in Hamilton was important as well. So comfortable were New Zealand throughout this series, he was not really tested as a captain. Nevertheless, he has now got four wins on his record, to go with the three away losses.

Mitchell Santner (one match, 16 runs at 16, two wickets at 31)
He was unrequired with the ball for much of the Hamilton Test, but made some glorious fielding porn, sliding beatifically as to stop balls near the boundary. His two wickets on day five sparked Pakistan's collapse, even if he seemed slightly confused as to how he got those scalps.

Tom Latham (two matches, 90 at 22.5)
He was thrice dismissed cheaply by Mohammad Amir, but it was such high-quality bowling at times, that Latham might be forgiven. The second-innings 80 in Hamilton saved his series stats, and it was also a vital knock for the team. It was on the foundation Latham had provided that Taylor would later prosper.

Henry Nicholls (two matches, 69 at 23)
He shared a crucial 65-run stand with Raval at Hagley Oval to help New Zealand take control of that Test. Reached for a short, wide ball like he was trying to break a ceiling cobweb in his final innings, to get himself out. Took two good catches on day five at Hamilton, though he had also fluffed a run-out earlier in the game.

Todd Astle (one match, 0 wickets)
On a Hagley track completely unsuited to spinners, he delivered four tight but unmemorable overs. Was replaced when Santner regained fitness.

Matt Henry (one match, one wicket at 68)
Bowled better in the Hamilton first innings than his figures suggest, and wound up performing a supporting role to Wagner and Southee most of the time. He is likely to get further Test opportunities through the summer.