New Zealand scale cricket’s Mount Everest to beat India in the World Test Championship final
Size really doesn’t matter and money doesn’t always talk. New Zealand showed that nice guys can finish first overcoming India to claim the World Test Championship.
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Sir Edmund Hillary would have been proud – another Everest has been climbed.
New Zealand have won cricket’s first World Test Championship and the main problem now might be finding room in the trophy cabinet with those three rugby World Cups and the America’s Cup yachting title they currently hold.
We won’t even bother discussing Russell Crowe’s Oscar, Lorde’s Grammy or Sir Peter Jackson’s Lord Of The Rings which needs its own cabinet.
All this from a nation with a population of just under five million which makes it almost three times smaller than another of the other eight Test playing nations competing for the title.
For once in cricket money hasn’t talked.
This is a huge moment for world cricket because it gives hope to every nation that you don’t have to be one of the cashed up big three – Australia, India or England – to make your mark in the five (or six) day game.
New Zealand cricket’s annual revenue is around $45 million which is about one ninth of Australia’s but the oily rag has a sweet scent because it has meant there is no sense of indulgence or largesse within the Kiwi game.
They need every dollar to work hard for them and with limited budgets comes hard-headedness which flows through the entire structure.
It is true Australia has not seen the best of this Kiwi team for New Zealand have not won a series against Australia in 28 years.
During this time the Kiwis have struggled to win a Test never mind a full rubber against their most intense opponents who seem to bring out the worst in them.
But Australia apart, the Kiwis boast some impressive numbers.
They have not lost a Test in their last eight home series.
Had they not been beaten by a bizarre countback rule about hitting most boundaries in the World Cup final against England the Kiwis would hold both major cricket titles.
In the last four 50 over World Cups they have made two finals and been semi-finalist twice and they currently have the world’s number two batsmen (Kane Williamson) and the world’s third (Tim Southee) and fifth (Neil Wagner) ranked quicks while skyscraping quick Kyle Jamieson has a bowling average of 14 after eight Tests.
They are like that horse that was all around the money but struggled to salute which is why this is such a big moment.
In a world full of big bucks and large egos where players commitment to the national cause has been eroded by T20 competitions the Kiwis have done well to assemble a tight team without ego problems.
They are not big on tantrums, big statements or sledging. They just play.
In some ways New Zealand’s triumph is reminiscent of many of Queensland’s State of Origin success.
With a smaller talent pool they tend to keep the faith with selections and that allows careers to develop.
They say that nice guys finished last but the Kiwis have proved it does not have to be that way.
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Originally published as New Zealand scale cricket’s Mount Everest to beat India in the World Test Championship final
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