Multiple rewards on the line for Kiwi cricketers
A historic first test series win over South Africa isn’t the only juicy incentive on offer for the Black Caps next week.
New Zealand delivered a statement performance in the opening match of the series, crushing the Proteas by an innings and 276 runs inside seven sessions at Hagley Oval yesterday.
If New Zealand can secure at least a draw from the second match, which will also be at Hagley, starting on Friday, they would snap a long test drought against South Africa.
South Africa have dominated New Zealand since their first test in 1932, winning 13 of the 16 series contested with three drawn.
That isn’t the only reward on the line. A 2-0 series win would vault the world test champions back into top spot in the ICC’s test world rankings. New Zealand would move to a rating of 120, leapfrogging Australia on 119, with India third on 116.
The Black Caps occupied top spot for the first time in January 2021 after a home series victory over Pakistan. They lost their grip on that top spot in December after losing the series to India, who temporarily overtook them, after an innings thumping in the second test in Mumbai. Australia moved into first place following their 4-0 Ashes triumph over England last month.
Precious World Test Championship points will also be on the Black Caps’ minds after a hollow start to the home summer, where they were embarrassed by Bangladesh at Mt Maunganui early last month.
Pocketing a maximum 24 points (two wins) from the South African series would help keep the Black Caps’ hopes alive in the WTC – something that looked forlorn after the upset loss to Bangladesh.
The significance of the second test wasn’t lost on New Zealand captain Tom Latham, who said they were desperate to back up their comprehensive display.
The second test was a fresh slate though, and they needed to regroup and be at the best on Friday.
‘‘There’s the historic nature of this series, but for us it’s about trying to put out performances together and those outcomes are biproducts of the processes that we go through,’’ Latham said. ‘‘That’s something we talked about over this test match was being able to win those little moments and focus on the process and we managed to get the outcome in this test.’’
After a memorable 2-1 home test series win over India last month, South Africa turned in a dreadful showing with bat and ball in Christchurch. They posted just 95 and 111 in their two innings with Temba Bavuma and Kyle Verreynne the only two batters to score 30 or more in either inning.
With the ball, South Africa had New Zealand in trouble at 36-2 in their first innings, but couldn’t capitalise.
Latham expected a vastly improved South African side for the second test.