As a long-standing and (usually) long-suffering supporter of the New Zealand cricket team, it has been a somewhat unusual last eighteen months. The New Zealand team has suddenly begun to play some good cricket, which is at odds with our reputation and (most of) our history.
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| Happy days for NZ cricket fans. |
We had a good patch during the '80s when two brilliant cricketers in Martin Crowe and Richard Hadlee complemented by a selection of solid, generally dour players made us hard to beat, but after Hadlee retired things went downhill a bit in the bowling department. When Crowe was forced into early retirement by a knee injury in his early 30s the team and its results were pretty grim for a while.
Stephen Fleming's side of the early oughties restored some pride, but terrible man-management by those who run the game in New Zealand undid a lot that good work and put us back about a decade.
But things have finally started to come good, mainly on the back of some genuinely world-class fast bowlers, two very good batsmen and a confident, aggressive, innovative captain in the form of the talismanic Brendon McCullum.
Anyway, without wanting to jinx them all with overconfidence, the team is starting to look like it could go deep into the tournament. Although we're probably third favourite behind Australia and South Africa, there is not much between the sides, and if the kiwis can continue to show their mettle in tough situations they might just have the skill and talent to get through to the semi-finals, and after that anything could happen.
So, long story short, I've been enjoying spending following their fortunes. It makes a nice change to follow a team that is at last having some success!
That's the baseball-like game thingy that the rest of the world plays? :D
ReplyDeleteGood luck to team New Zealand!
Something like that, John! ;-)
DeleteThe NZ - Aus match was high drama! India's form reversal is something to be concerned about, and Sri Lanka are going well. It is wide open I think. My pick - NZ vs India final. Might as well be optimistic.
ReplyDeleteWould love to see NZ make the final, but we've got to get through a quarterfinal and then either SA or India to do so (most likely), so it won't be easy!
DeleteThe NZ vs Aust game was a cracker and the only game so far dominated by bowlers. I reckon it could be a NZ vs South Africa final.
ReplyDeleteCould be. I hope NZ v Aus, and for the kiwis to defy the odds and win at the MCG!
DeleteLike John above I say good luck to team New Zealand, though I have followed the game a bit more closely than perhaps he has.
ReplyDeleteI can remember watching John Reid pile on the runs and a really tough opener you had then Sutcliffe(?) I also enjoyed watching Glen turner playing under the cathedral at Worcester on summer evenings.
At the other end of the scale I spent a day at Lords watching a NZ side who weren't good enough to score any runs being bowled at by an England side that weren't good enough to bowl them out. A few beers sunk that day.
Still one thing we could still teach you a few lessons about is how to ruin a side through terrible coaching and management.
Good luck for the final, and by the way I enjoy the wargames blog too, thanks.
Thanks for sharing the memories, John! Yep, you've seen the best and the worst of NZ then. Shame about how England have gone lately. They were brilliant under Vaughan (OK, maybe not so much in ODIs, but ODIs only count in World Cup year really), but seem not to be able to see the wood for the trees at the moment. Not sure what the solution is long term, but getting rid of Moores and bringing someone decent in to get the bowlers back on track would seem to be an urgent requirement. Should be an interesting short series between NZ and England after the World Cup, I think. We don't do very well in England as a rule, but I think it's important for NZ's test credibility to put in a good performance.
DeleteCheers for dropping by - always nice to talk some cricket! :)
Like yourself I have been enjoying our recent cricketing successes. As long as we can keep up the good work into the final! Go Kiwis!
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