Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final
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Just in case any of you nodded off and missed the pivotal moment of Day 6.
@rotated said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Just in case any of you nodded off and missed the pivotal moment of Day 6.
In context this was a phone in type poll, like the Vodafone man of the match going to David Warner in a losing team vs nz in Hobart that time.
And yes, both are an abomination on sport and all things decent.
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@no-quarter said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
https://twitter.com/FPayne100/status/1408184657770778624?s=19
Paddles with a Jamieson like average there…..no accident who is number one and two though. What a devastating pair they are.
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@rotated said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Just in case any of you nodded off and missed the pivotal moment of Day 6.
In context this was a phone in type poll, like the Vodafone man of the match going to David Warner in a losing team vs nz in Hobart that time.
And yes, both are an abomination on sport and all things decent.
@siam said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
@rotated said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Just in case any of you nodded off and missed the pivotal moment of Day 6.
In context this was a phone in type poll, like the Vodafone man of the match going to David Warner in a losing team vs nz in Hobart that time.
And yes, both are an abomination on sport and all things decent.
It's from the ICC.
If the were truly a global organisation, it shoudn't have even been an option.
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Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
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@no-quarter said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
https://twitter.com/FPayne100/status/1408184657770778624?s=19
Paddles with a Jamieson like average there…..no accident who is number one and two though. What a devastating pair they are.
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
@no-quarter said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
https://twitter.com/FPayne100/status/1408184657770778624?s=19
Paddles with a Jamieson like average there…..
He was alright, that Paddles chap...
It's great that Blundell is ready to replace Watling, some good succession planning there.
Very happy that Taylor came through with the big innings when the chips were down and we desperately needed his experience. World Test Championship final, 2 down for 40 chasing 140 and it could all go horribly pear-shaped... And Taylor and Williamson just put together another big partnership to seal the game, cool as you like - just another day at the office.
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Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
Colin surely... But of the 4, agree it would be one of the openers, so Boult currently since Southee seems to be getting better with age.
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@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
Colin surely... But of the 4, agree it would be one of the openers, so Boult currently since Southee seems to be getting better with age.
@godder said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
Colin surely... But of the 4, agree it would be one of the openers, so Boult currently since Southee seems to be getting better with age.
I said Pacemen not placeholders
But yeah, he could bat seven at a pinch even though he’s universally regarded as a weak batsman for an all rounder.
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Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
Not a fair question. Different times.
We won not because of the 3 months before the final, because of the 5 years before the final. Impossible to suggest where Hadlee would have fit in to that.
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@godder said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
Colin surely... But of the 4, agree it would be one of the openers, so Boult currently since Southee seems to be getting better with age.
I said Pacemen not placeholders
But yeah, he could bat seven at a pinch even though he’s universally regarded as a weak batsman for an all rounder.
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
@godder said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
Colin surely... But of the 4, agree it would be one of the openers, so Boult currently since Southee seems to be getting better with age.
I said Pacemen not placeholders
But yeah, he could bat seven at a pinch
Having just said Boult, imagine batsmen trying to face Hadlee at one end, and then the lefty at the other. In terms of like for like, replacing Southee would also make sense.
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@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
Not a fair question. Different times.
We won not because of the 3 months before the final, because of the 5 years before the final. Impossible to suggest where Hadlee would have fit in to that.
@majorrage said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
Not a fair question. Different times.
We won not because of the 3 months before the final, because of the 5 years before the final. Impossible to suggest where Hadlee would have fit in to that.
Possibly, Paddles with all due respect to them had some real trundlers backing him up compared to the unit we have now.
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@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
@godder said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
Colin surely... But of the 4, agree it would be one of the openers, so Boult currently since Southee seems to be getting better with age.
I said Pacemen not placeholders
But yeah, he could bat seven at a pinch
Having just said Boult, imagine batsmen trying to face Hadlee at one end, and then the lefty at the other. In terms of like for like, replacing Southee would also make sense.
@godder said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
@godder said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
Colin surely... But of the 4, agree it would be one of the openers, so Boult currently since Southee seems to be getting better with age.
I said Pacemen not placeholders
But yeah, he could bat seven at a pinch
Having just said Boult, imagine batsmen trying to face Hadlee at one end, and then the lefty at the other. In terms of like for like, replacing Southee would also make sense.
Yeah but we have a good performing lefty in that angry blond South African guy.
Southees improvement over the last few years makes him impossible to leave out.
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I was bouncing my 8 month old son on my knee when that LBW review from Kane was happening...I let out such a roar when ball tracking showed it missing the stumps that the poor little guy got a hell of a fright and burst into tears #parenting
@tewaio said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
I was bouncing my 8 month old son on my knee when that LBW review from Kane was happening...I let out such a roar when ball tracking showed it missing the stumps that the poor little guy got a hell of a fright and burst into tears #parenting
tears of joy im assuming
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@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
Not a fair question. Different times.
We won not because of the 3 months before the final, because of the 5 years before the final. Impossible to suggest where Hadlee would have fit in to that.
@majorrage said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
Not a fair question. Different times.
We won not because of the 3 months before the final, because of the 5 years before the final. Impossible to suggest where Hadlee would have fit in to that.
Way to complicate a pretty simple fucking question…
My answer would be Boult.
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Jesus, just read @majorrage post a moment ago just after i'd read this piece by Jarrod Kimber:
I watched NZ win their first test against England in 1978, just scrape past the Windies in 1980,win with the Ilford Seconds in 1986, Marty & Andrew Jones bat for eons at the Basin, then the apocalypse that was 1995-2012 where we celebrated mediocrity and prostituted our test game for limited Overs - including match fixers.
Then after the nadir of South Africa, the captaincy change debacle, we saw the rise of McCullum (Captain's Knock Edition) - the glory that was the UAE no bumper test , McCullum making doubles and a triple, Southee, Boult, Wags, Rosco , Kane and Latham...s
and all I could think of while they were getting each single run was Bert Sutcliffe never playing ina test win, Martin Donnelly and Stewie Dempster having to make their money playing for County and invitation sides , the 49 tourists playing in England to force 4 day tests, the 73 tourists forcing 5 day tests, and finally thinking how Marty would have reacted to this one.
@MajorRage you said it far more eloquently than I ever could. This one means everything to people like me.
@synicbast I was going to post that Kimber article - and written by an Aussie.
Says it all really and distills perfectly the essence of supporting NZ.
My memories of NZ test go back a bit further than yours. I can remember our seventh ever victory - fittingly against India away and recall that commentators saying we were fighting it out to avoid the wooden spoon. I remember Turners heroics in the drawn series in the Windies, the match in Nottingham in 73 which we should/coulda won and I listened on the radio at school (thanks to a cricketing tragic geography teacher who knew beating Oz for the first time was way more important than population studies) as Turner Collinge and the Hadlees took us to victory.
However it is ironic and incredibly apt for a Kiwi supporter that the match that really got me hooked on test cricket is just one in a long line of glorious battles to no affect. I sat glued to the TV and watched every ball as Collinge and Hastings set a world record 151 10th wicket stand. Glorious stuff but apart from the stat meaningless as we lost the series having been hammered in the earlier test.
Until yesterday that was pretty much summed it up for me and NZ cricket. Low expectations that too often were proven to nevertheless be unrealistically high. Favourite players like Burgess and Coney that were quirky grafters rather than stars. Magnificent guns blazing losing efforts like Astles double - summed up by 2019 at Lords. Don't hope coz like the last tour of Aussie it'll just break your heart. We're in the Boxing Day test - oh... Fuck!
Yesterday changed all that. I've always loved my cricket - more than any other sport TBH and Thursday morning paid me back in spades for over 50 years of suffering and torment. I watched till midnight and again from just before 4. I coudn't log on to the Fern as I couldn't tear my eyes away from the screen. Dare I hope. We'll get there in 5's boys. 50 to go - sti;ll time for a collapse 45 fuck my blood pressure. 20 Surely we've got this now. Then it changed to I want these two to be there at the end and then screaming my head off alone in a cold dark wintry house. Who gives a fuck WE WON.
It's not a story of redemption but it is the culmination of a journey that even in the bad times has been a delight but fuck winning feels so much better than gallant defeats. Thanks guys for everything.
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Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
Southee for me.
I don't think Boult or Southee even at their peaks would be good enough to warrant selection as an co-equal bowler with Hadlee in their own right like Walsh/Ambrose or Younis/Akram.
So the attack would still be built around Hadlee and Boult would be slotted in the Chatfield role. I just see him doing that much better than Southee - being a left arm option and having better control.
Boult for me also seems to get the big wickets, or wickets against the run of play moreso than Southee.
Wagner would probably be next on the list as Hadlee had excellent stamina himself (due to long county seasons) and had an underrated ability to pepper batsmen with the short ball.
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@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
Southee for me.
I don't think Boult or Southee even at their peaks would be good enough to warrant selection as an co-equal bowler with Hadlee in their own right like Walsh/Ambrose or Younis/Akram.
So the attack would still be built around Hadlee and Boult would be slotted in the Chatfield role. I just see him doing that much better than Southee - being a left arm option and having better control.
Boult for me also seems to get the big wickets, or wickets against the run of play moreso than Southee.
Wagner would probably be next on the list as Hadlee had excellent stamina himself (due to long county seasons) and had an underrated ability to pepper batsmen with the short ball.
@rotated said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
@mn5 said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
Here’s a question to ponder.
If Paddles got picked up by Marty McFly and transported into the future at his peak ( when he was in his 30s ) which of our four pacemen would he displace ?
I mean, he’s fucken Paddles, a better batsman than any of them, better bowler too so no way you don’t select him but which one of our four current champions misses out ?Unpopular as it might seem I’m gonna have to pick Boult.
Southee for me.
**I don't think Boult or Southee even at their peaks would be good enough to warrant selection as an co-equal bowler with Hadlee in their own right like Walsh/Ambrose or Younis/Akram.
**
So the attack would still be built around Hadlee and Boult would be slotted in the Chatfield role. I just see him doing that much better than Southee - being a left arm option and having better control.Boult for me also seems to get the big wickets, or wickets against the run of play moreso than Southee.
Wagner would probably be next on the list as Hadlee had excellent stamina himself (due to long county seasons) and had an underrated ability to pepper batsmen with the short ball.
Well no, as I mentioned before Hadlee never played alongside anyone even remotely close to his own ability. Southee, Boult and Wagner on the other hand are all much of a muchness, all excellent, but still not in Hadlees class.
Jury still out on Jamieson but fuck me it’s impressive stuff so far.
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Just some final thoughts before I get some sleep.
Spirit of the Game:
From the very start, when Virat made a point of acknowledging and congratulating BJ on his career, this game was played in the best way, with moments of camaraderie, respect and appreciation.
I've just been watching the final days highlights and little things have struck me, Kohli's tap on the shoulder after Rosco got hit in the head, the bromance hug at the end of the game between Kohli and Kane, Rosco and Kane walking off like Tenzing and Ed, the graciousness of Kohli's comments including the good humoured smile regarding Kylo having the wood on him. All these things plus the obvious emotion in Doullie's interview with Rosco.It was a very special match. An advertisement for Test cricket where technique and mental application were at the forefront. Two bowling attacks that operated at as close to 100% as dammit, where a 40 or 50 was worth a century in most other matches, on a pitch that wasn't unplayable but was in that great understatement of test Cricket; a "sporting" wicket.
Now the emotions are more under control, and the stress is gone, this really did live up to the branding. There was imperfect play, but that's to be expected given the stakes and the occasion. And Frankly I'm glad it wasn't at Lords just because I realkly don't like the quality of the actual playing surface with the slope (it's about as flawed a playing surface as Eden Park is for tests). ut both sides have refused to give it away during the two years of the tournament, NZ having to win all 4 tests of their final programmeto qualify, India fighting back in Australia and grabbing victory over England after falling 1-0 down at home.
I've been able to ignore the Bobs and Vags segment of fandom today because they are irrelevant. Just seeing the world wide reaction from test cricket fans, former players and administratorshas reinforced just how good this match was. There's been some quality writing and analysis before during and after this match, for sure,
I really hope that the WTC and the quality of this match keeps Test cricket as the pinnacle of the sport. Sure, improvements need to be made, but no one expected much of the 1930 or 1987 world cups for football and rugby respectively at the time. Thankfully Virat and Kane are absolute champions of the improtance of test Cricket. And yes, I see Virat's POV regarding a best of three final, I just don't agree with him. But at least he's thinking about Test cricket .
I'm probably going to bask in this game for a while at least until the India -England series starts. But tonight I'm sure that there's a smile on Hogan's face and he's at peace.@synicbast said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
But tonight I'm sure that there's a smile on Hogan's face and he's at peace.
Jeez, your tugging at some heart strings there. I met him at his sister's place in between the illnesses, he was in remission (I guess that is the correct term) for a while and seemed healthy enough at the time. I had also met him in his playing days and he kind of aloof, almost arrogant, really driven and determined might be fairer (he had a right to be arrogant really) but the second time around he was just a lovely bloke. Humble, kind, happy to talk to anyone. I even asked him if he thought that his attitude during his playing days was a part of his success. His reply was that the softer more rounded person that he had become might have been even better. He attributed that change to Lorraine as well. Obviously a few of us feel that this was for him which pleases me.
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I was bouncing my 8 month old son on my knee when that LBW review from Kane was happening...I let out such a roar when ball tracking showed it missing the stumps that the poor little guy got a hell of a fright and burst into tears #parenting
@tewaio said in Cricket 2021: NZ in England and WTC Final:
I was bouncing my 8 month old son on my knee when that LBW review from Kane was happening...I let out such a roar when ball tracking showed it missing the stumps that the poor little guy got a hell of a fright and burst into tears #parenting
If babies could talk, " fuck dad, save that shit for when we're being stalked by a sabre tooth tiger! I'm only up to page 20 in my survival instincts training course. Fuck you, where's mum, I need a strong drink!"
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@synicbast I was going to post that Kimber article - and written by an Aussie.
Says it all really and distills perfectly the essence of supporting NZ.
My memories of NZ test go back a bit further than yours. I can remember our seventh ever victory - fittingly against India away and recall that commentators saying we were fighting it out to avoid the wooden spoon. I remember Turners heroics in the drawn series in the Windies, the match in Nottingham in 73 which we should/coulda won and I listened on the radio at school (thanks to a cricketing tragic geography teacher who knew beating Oz for the first time was way more important than population studies) as Turner Collinge and the Hadlees took us to victory.
However it is ironic and incredibly apt for a Kiwi supporter that the match that really got me hooked on test cricket is just one in a long line of glorious battles to no affect. I sat glued to the TV and watched every ball as Collinge and Hastings set a world record 151 10th wicket stand. Glorious stuff but apart from the stat meaningless as we lost the series having been hammered in the earlier test.
Until yesterday that was pretty much summed it up for me and NZ cricket. Low expectations that too often were proven to nevertheless be unrealistically high. Favourite players like Burgess and Coney that were quirky grafters rather than stars. Magnificent guns blazing losing efforts like Astles double - summed up by 2019 at Lords. Don't hope coz like the last tour of Aussie it'll just break your heart. We're in the Boxing Day test - oh... Fuck!
Yesterday changed all that. I've always loved my cricket - more than any other sport TBH and Thursday morning paid me back in spades for over 50 years of suffering and torment. I watched till midnight and again from just before 4. I coudn't log on to the Fern as I couldn't tear my eyes away from the screen. Dare I hope. We'll get there in 5's boys. 50 to go - sti;ll time for a collapse 45 fuck my blood pressure. 20 Surely we've got this now. Then it changed to I want these two to be there at the end and then screaming my head off alone in a cold dark wintry house. Who gives a fuck WE WON.
It's not a story of redemption but it is the culmination of a journey that even in the bad times has been a delight but fuck winning feels so much better than gallant defeats. Thanks guys for everything.
@dogmeat the research and capturing the tone in that kimber article was very very impressive. Even more so when he didn't grow up with all that folklore in close proximity.
He's very good.
The YouTube analysis of wags is also worth a search.
Good post too mate. Same here.
