The days of cliques and senior players ignoring younger ones are over and, as one former Black Cap said, stars are no longer faking injury to avoid training.
Captain Kane Williamson is confident the Black Caps will be able to adapt to whatever vagaries the Hagley Oval pitch might offer when the second Test against Pakistan begins in Christchurch on Sunday.
While Black Caps fans have rightly cherished the side’s indomitable home record and the performances of Kane Williamson, Kyle Jamieson and Tim Southee over the past two weeks, many would love a less one-sided competition – and five days of play in a test – when Pakistan start their test series at Mount Maunganui on Boxing Day. Here’s the list of unmemorable test tourists:
Bangladesh 2001 Lost the first test in Hamilton by an inning and 52 runs. Mark Richardson (143) and Craig McMillan (106) made centuries after the visitors won the toss and opted to bowl. Shane Bond took 4-47 in Bangladesh’s first innings before Chris Cairns helped roll the tourists for 108 in their second dig with 7-52.