Even the Aussies are in awe of the Black Caps
You know it’s been a vintage year for the Black Caps when an Australian news outlet can put three New Zealanders and only two Aussies in their test team of the year.
Kiwi batsmen Tom Latham, Kane Williamson and Henry Nicholls all got the nod as Fox
Sports, the new broadcaster of Australian test cricket, selected a global team from the year’s action in the five-day format.
Williamson was also given the honour of captaining the side, being preferred to Virat Kohli who skippered India to No 1 in the world test rankings and gets a place in this team batting behind Williamson at No 4.
Wicketkeeper Tim Paine and spin bowler Nathan Lyon were the Australian players named in a year of shame for the men wearing the baggy green as they suffered the consequences the ball-tampering scandal and a slump in form.
Australia are ranked at No 5 in the latest test rankings, two behind New Zealand who just completed a fourth consecutive test series win for the first time when they smashed Sri Lanka in Christchurch.
Surprisingly there was no room for any English players despite their team finishing the year ranked No 2.
The Fox Sports 2018 test team in batting order is: Tom Latham (NZ), Dimuth Karunaratne (SL), Kane Williamson, captain (NZ), Virat Kohli (Ind), Henry Nicholls (NZ), Tim Paine (Aus), Jason Holder (WI), Nathan Lyon (Aus), Kagiso Rabada (SA), Jasprit Bumrah (Ind), Mohammad Abbas (Pak).
Here is what they had to say about the Kiwis:
Tom Latham – 658 runs at 59.81. Two centuries. Highest score of 264 not out.
The only opener in the world to average in excess of 50 this year (minimum three tests), Latham did not register his first century of the year until December – there were two halfcenturies before that – but once he got there, he was not satisfied. The Kiwi went on to make an unbeaten 264 against Sri Lanka and finished the year off in style with another ton.
Kane Williamson - 651 at
59.18. Two centuries. Highest score of 139.
It’s a real shame New Zealand play so little test cricket nowadays, particularly because it robs us of the chance to see more of their remarkable skipper, Williamson. He was his consistent and elegant self in 2018. With test series wins against England and Sri Lanka at home, and more impressively Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, Williamson captains the team this year.
Henry Nicholls – 658 at 73.11. Three centuries. Highest score of
162 not out.
Look no further than Nicholls for proof of the value in investing time in a batsman. After a slow start to his career, the former Sydney Thunder batsman now looks every bit the test player and was New Zealand’s most reliable performer of the year with three centuries and three half-centuries across just seven tests.