Black Caps name their first XV
Do the Black Caps get enough respect for what they’ve achieved over the past eight years, since they hit rock bottom in Cape Town, all out for 45?
When you see Australian captain Tim Paine say he expects India to win the World Test Championship final that starts this Friday ‘‘pretty comfortably, if they play anywhere near their best,’’ you do have to wonder.
If Kane Williamson and co needed any extra motivation, that dismissal of their chances by the Australian wicketkeeper will have provided plenty.
But the reality is they probably don’t need any, because this is a team that knows exactly how good it is even if it seldom shouts it from the rooftops.
Before Paine tossed his two cents in, there had already been regrettable comments from England coach Chris Silverwood. In a statement issued alongside his squad for the series against the Black Caps, he said: ‘‘Playing the top two teams in the world, in New Zealand and India, is perfect preparation for us as we continue to improve and progress towards an Ashes series in Australia at the back end of the year.’’
Yes, you read that right. ‘‘Perfect preparation’’.
Perhaps the result of that series – a 1-0 win to the Black Caps – was a form of karma.
There was plenty of praise for them in the wake of Sunday’s win. Writing in the Times former England captain Michael Atherton said: ‘‘New Zealand’s batsmen played the game the way it was intended to be played’’. His successor as captain and fellow Sky Sports pundit Nasser Hussain said of the Black Caps: ‘‘They have a very, very strong mentality’’.
When it comes to gaining respect, one thing many Black Caps fans would like to see is more tests. When you look at how many matches they’ve played compared to other teams since those dark days in South Africa, it’s easy to understand why.
Since January 15, 2013, the day after the South African series ended, they have played 69 matches. That’s more than Bangladesh (48) and Zimbabwe (27) and newcomers Afghanistan (6), and Ireland (3) and about the same as Pakistan (67), the West Indies (67), and South Africa (70). It’s a fair bit less than Sri Lanka (77), India (82), and Australia (84). And a whole lot less than England (106).