Black Caps reach the summit
Kane Williamson reckons taking the Black Caps to the top of the world is ‘‘hard to beat’’ in what has already been a glittering career.
Williamson’s team can officially call itself the best in the world, moving to No 1 in the world test rankings for the first time after an innings and 176-run demolition of Pakistan at Hagley Oval in Christchurch yesterday.
Spearheaded by New Zealand cricket’s new sensation, and manof-the-match Kyle Jamieson, who took 6-48 in Pakistan’s second innings to claim match figures of 11-117, the Black Caps cruised to victory inside four days to sweep the two-test series.
In doing so, New Zealand will be ranked world No 1 for the first time ever and have kept hopes alive of reaching the inaugural World Test Championship final in June; have won all tests (four) in a multi-tour home summer for the first time; have won a national record sixth consecutive test match; and have extended their unbeaten run in home tests to 17.
‘‘I don’t know how the rankings work exactly but I know they span over a period of time, which to achieve that standing means that there’s been a lot of hard work over a lot of matches and trainings and all these sorts of things to reach that, so a very special moment from the guys,’’ Williamson said.
‘‘It was hard to talk about until the test summer was over so it’s nice to be able to sit back now and take a moment and enjoy the moment.’’
Jamieson, the 2.04m tall fast bowler, did all the damage with the ball. Having taken 5-69 in the first innings, he returned career-best
match figures – only Sir Richard Hadlee and Daniel Vettori have had better test match returns for New Zealand – to secure the first of what will probably be several 10-wicket hauls.
It was also the first 10-wicket bag any bowler has snared in the eight tests at Hagley Oval.
Williamson was full of praise, describing Jamieson as a ‘‘special’’ cricketer.
‘‘His contributions have been immense and have gone a long way to moving this team forward and complementing the bowling attack really well.’’
The 26-year-old’s numbers early in his career are staggering. Yes, he is only six tests in and has not played away from home yet but he has already taken 36 wickets (including four five-wicket bags) at a remarkable average of 13.28.
For context, the quickest New Zealand bowler to 50 test wickets is Shane Bond, who took 12 tests to get there. At the rate he is going, Jamieson would get there in nine, maybe even eight.
With all due respect to the other bowlers in this test, and New Zealand in particular were very good, it felt like everyone else was bowl
ing on a different pitch with Jamieson’s height able to generate another level of difficulty for the Pakistan batsmen.
The tourists certainly had no answer, succumbing for 186 on the fourth day, following their first innings effort of 297 on day one.
In between, New Zealand piled on 659-6 in their only innings – their fifth-highest team total in test history – highlighted by a Williamson masterclass of 238 and supporting roles by Henry Nicholls (157) and Daryl Mitchell (102 not out).
Williamson, the No 1-ranked batsman in the world, described his New Zealand record-equalling fourth test double hundred as a ‘‘real battle’’ early on.
The 369-run fourth wicket partnership, the third highest for any wicket for New Zealand, on day two and three took New Zealand from 71-3 to 440-3 and set up the position of dominance.
Jamieson finished emphatically.
There is now a big international break for the Black Caps, followed by a diet of white-ball cricket (chiefly Twenty20s) against Australia and Bangladesh in late February and through March. it off,