I may have equalled my personal record for the most Test wickets in a calendar year but I have to say it’s not my best ever – for me that is still 2001.

After my seven wickets in the first Test, I’m now only one away from going past my personal best of 80 for the year. I didn’t actually know I had reached this milestone until yesterday when a friend told me. It’s been a good year and hopefully there are still a few more to come with our final Test of 2006.

I think 2001 is still my best because we won more, having played a couple more Tests (won 8 in 12). That year we beat India and West Indies at home. It’s not like we’ve had a bad year this time (winning five of 10) but we haven’t played as many matches, which I suppose makes my achievement now better from a stats point of view.

I know I’m not getting any younger but I still feel as though I’m improving because I am more experienced and that's a very important asset in Test cricket. You cannot teach experience.

My best memory this year, so far, was our victory against England at Trent Bridge where we squared the series and I managed to pick up eight wickets in the second innings. Those are the times when you can enjoy your own success more, when the team has won.

In terms of this series, it was disappointing to lose inside three days in Christchurch and although the wicket was ok, it was seaming around a little bit and it was difficult for batsmen. That was why Kumar Sangakkara’s 100 was all the more special.

Unfortunately that innings was overshadowed when I was run out after I tried to congratulate Kumar. Although it was my fault, because the ball was still live, it was disappointing because we play in an era when people talk about the spirit of the game so that was not on.

I haven’t spoken to Stephen Fleming or anyone else about it; nothing has been said. To be honest it was made a bigger issue in the media than what it was to us. If that’s the way they want to play their cricket, it’s up to them.

There was not a great deal of spin in that match for me, so to come away with seven wickets was quite satisfying, but as anyone who knows me would be aware I never get too carried away by personal success when the team has lost or is not winning.

I expect the second Test here in Wellington, where it’s very cold, to play in a similar way as the wickets in New Zealand usually offer the seamers quite a bit.

I definitely feel we can come back in the series. We have shown before, like at Trent Bridge, that we don’t give up and it will be the same here. Everyone has to play their best game, we need to contribute together if we’re going to win.

I can’t really say much beyond the cricket as we haven’t had time to explore the country. The schedule is very tight and straight after this match we are into the limited overs stuff, with a Twenty20 match three days after the Test.

I’ve been following the Ashes a little when I’ve had chance and it’s been a shame for my good friend Freddie Flintoff, with England 2-0 down. They are not playing well at the moment but hopefully they will come back. They have the ability and need to fight for the full five days and try to get back in the series rather than just give it up.