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New Zealand seem ill-prepared but look well-placed to overcome England New Zealand seem ill-prepared but look well-placed to overcome England
(about 3 hours later)
The trouble with this crop of Kiwis is that they don’t seem to have a proper sense of history. If they did they might recognise that they face an almost hopeless task. They have pitched up at Lord’s utterly unprepared to take on England, against whom they nearly always lose. Half of their side have only just arrived in the country, for heaven’s sake.The trouble with this crop of Kiwis is that they don’t seem to have a proper sense of history. If they did they might recognise that they face an almost hopeless task. They have pitched up at Lord’s utterly unprepared to take on England, against whom they nearly always lose. Half of their side have only just arrived in the country, for heaven’s sake.
This will be New Zealand’s 100th Test against England since the first match in Christchurch in 1930. So far they have won eight, compared to England’s 47. They did not win a single game until they overcame the side led by Geoff Boycott in Wellington in 1978. In 34 Test series between the two nations, the Kiwis have won three.This will be New Zealand’s 100th Test against England since the first match in Christchurch in 1930. So far they have won eight, compared to England’s 47. They did not win a single game until they overcame the side led by Geoff Boycott in Wellington in 1978. In 34 Test series between the two nations, the Kiwis have won three.
Yet there remains the suspicion that the captain, Brendon McCullum, reckons his side have a chance. So do the bookies; so do the pundits; so does the rest of the world. And that has a lot to do with McCullum.Yet there remains the suspicion that the captain, Brendon McCullum, reckons his side have a chance. So do the bookies; so do the pundits; so does the rest of the world. And that has a lot to do with McCullum.
He came to the captaincy two years ago in bungled circumstances. Hindsight tells us that the Kiwis made the right decision to replace Ross Taylor with McCullum, but it was handled in a very messy way (no doubt the ECB hopes a similar conclusion is reached about it in a couple of years’ time). He came to the captaincy two years ago in bungled circumstances. Hindsight tells us that the Kiwis made the right decision to replace Ross Taylor with McCullum, but it was handled in a very messy way (no doubt the England and Wales Cricket Board hopes a similar conclusion is reached about it in a couple of years’ time).
McCullum’s start as captain was ugly. He won the toss in Cape Town, chose to bat and 20 overs later his side were bowled out for 45. The only way was up and indeed since then New Zealand have achieved something close to miraculous: they have flown.McCullum’s start as captain was ugly. He won the toss in Cape Town, chose to bat and 20 overs later his side were bowled out for 45. The only way was up and indeed since then New Zealand have achieved something close to miraculous: they have flown.
They were beaten here two years ago but thereafter New Zealand have not lost a series, winning four and drawing two. Their personnel is not so different to the last trip to England but the confidence and level of performance of the players involved has improved dramatically.They were beaten here two years ago but thereafter New Zealand have not lost a series, winning four and drawing two. Their personnel is not so different to the last trip to England but the confidence and level of performance of the players involved has improved dramatically.
McCullum himself has prospered. As a batsman he has been enhanced by the captaincy, averaging 49 when in charge, which is significantly higher than a career average of 38. He gets his runs in big clumps and usually very quickly; there has been a triple century plus two doubles.McCullum himself has prospered. As a batsman he has been enhanced by the captaincy, averaging 49 when in charge, which is significantly higher than a career average of 38. He gets his runs in big clumps and usually very quickly; there has been a triple century plus two doubles.
McCullum manages to be calm and carefree, an unusual combination in international sport. His instincts as a batsman and a captain are aggressive and he trusts them. He also manages to be calm and carefree, an unusual combination in international sport. His instincts as a batsman and a captain are aggressive and he trusts them. He also has a fine sense of perspective.
He also has a fine sense of perspective. The Kiwis were in Sharjah playing Pakistan when the terrible news of Phillip Hughes came through. Play was abandoned but resumed the following day. McCullum did not really have the appetite for continuing the match. But he went out there, not giving a damn, and soon he had a double century. A month later in Christchurch against Sri Lanka he would smash 195 in 134 balls. Ah, the cares of captaincy. The Kiwis were in Sharjah playing Pakistan when the terrible news of Phillip Hughes came through. Play was abandoned but resumed the following day. McCullum did not really have the appetite for continuing the match but he went out there, not giving a damn, and soon he had a double century. A month later in Christchurch against Sri Lanka he would smash 195 in 134 balls. Ah, the cares of captaincy.
McCullum operates by different rules. He refuses to be shackled. Yet he still forms part of the spine of a fast-improving team along with his fellow IPL men Kane Williamson and Trent Boult. McCullum has not been coy about Williamson’s potential. He has predicted that this compact right-hander could become New Zealand’s greatest batsman ever. McCullum operates by different rules. He refuses to be shackled. Yet he still forms part of the spine of a fast-improving team along with his fellow IPL men Kane Williamson and Trent Boult. McCullum has not been coy about Williamson’s potentiall. He has predicted that this compact right-hander could become New Zealand’s greatest batsman ever.
Martin Crowe, who has a very strong case to possess that accolade at the moment, is not inclined to argue. Currently Williamson is New Zealand’s Joe Root – or is it the other way around? One day these two 24-year-olds, who occasionally meet in the Yorkshire dressing room, will be tossing up together in international cricket.Martin Crowe, who has a very strong case to possess that accolade at the moment, is not inclined to argue. Currently Williamson is New Zealand’s Joe Root – or is it the other way around? One day these two 24-year-olds, who occasionally meet in the Yorkshire dressing room, will be tossing up together in international cricket.
Boult is the sort of bowler that England have been pining after for decades – with apologies to Ryan Sidebottom. He can be lethal when the ball swings. The classic full-length in-swinger into the right-hander’s pads is his trademark, while he has sufficient pace to stop batsmen lunging forward. Along with Tim Southee he has been practising on Indian outfields with wine-dark Duke balls: not quite the same as 20 overs at Worcester but the best they could manage.Boult is the sort of bowler that England have been pining after for decades – with apologies to Ryan Sidebottom. He can be lethal when the ball swings. The classic full-length in-swinger into the right-hander’s pads is his trademark, while he has sufficient pace to stop batsmen lunging forward. Along with Tim Southee he has been practising on Indian outfields with wine-dark Duke balls: not quite the same as 20 overs at Worcester but the best they could manage.
Beyond the spine there are some fine players. Ross Taylor does not sparkle as much now; instead he operates as a gnarled old pro in the middle order. Meanwhile Martin Guptill, after a century at Worcester and some remarkable one-day innings, is expected to regain his place as an opening batsman – he has not played since the Headingley Test of two years ago. Inevitably there could be a Bracewell (Doug) in the team.Beyond the spine there are some fine players. Ross Taylor does not sparkle as much now; instead he operates as a gnarled old pro in the middle order. Meanwhile Martin Guptill, after a century at Worcester and some remarkable one-day innings, is expected to regain his place as an opening batsman – he has not played since the Headingley Test of two years ago. Inevitably there could be a Bracewell (Doug) in the team.
Jet-lag permitting, New Zealand offer a challenge rather more threatening than the first side brought to England in 1931 by Tom Lowry. This one has more talent – and tattoos.Jet-lag permitting, New Zealand offer a challenge rather more threatening than the first side brought to England in 1931 by Tom Lowry. This one has more talent – and tattoos.