The Black Caps’ ICC Test Championship triumph over India is a major win for the teams outside of the ‘Big Three’ in Test cricket and shows that sometimes the good guy does win.
The agony of that pulsating Cricket World Cup final has healed for the New Zealanders. Their skipper, Kane Williamson, whose humbleness shone through after losing to England when all he wanted to do was disappear into the hallowed Lord’s turf, was there right to the end as he guided his team home with the bat.
When the ICC Test Championship format was established, no one would have given the Black Caps a chance in making the inaugural final at Lord’s. It was India, Australia, and England that sprang to mind. They are the financial powerhouses that currently rule the game.
That might change, though, because the only thing that remains constant is change and we just been served a nice dollop of it. New Zealand winning the Test Championship proves that you do not have to have financial clout and power to ensure your national Test side is the best in the world.
Six years ago, New Zealand’s status as a Test cricket playing nation mirrored the current Proteas situation. They were regarded as low profile and at the wrong end of the ICC Test rankings. They weren’t even considered for another New Year’s Test appearance at Newlands, as the contest was not deemed a marque event.
In 2013, New Zealand were shot out for just 45 in their first innings at Newlands. Vernon Philander took five wickets in the first six overs he bowled. I remember this Test well, as I was stuck in traffic and was annoyed that I had missed the first ball. I ended up missing the first five wickets!
New Zealand were below poor that day and although they were always highly competitive in the shorter formats of the game, no one really gave them the respect in the longer format.
Only three survivors from that day remain in the current Black Caps Test lineup – four if you count the then injured Ross Taylor – with Williamson, Trent Boult and BJ Watling being embarrassed with a total of 45. Eight years later, and they have earned all the plaudits coming their way.
The Proteas are in a similar phase but there is a core group slowly beginning to evolve into potential world-beaters. There is no doubt that the talent is there and with due respect to the Black Caps, South Africa is blessed with incredible talent that is still yet to be unearthed.
The lesson, though, to be learned from this is that no matter how little resources or boardroom power you have, you can still build a competitive Test side that is more than capable of taking on the very best in the world and beating cricket’s Goliaths.
You can conquer not only with talent but with hard work and determination, which this New Zealand side has shown in their pursuit of Test Cricket’s holy grail – something that was previously reserved for the powerful Test nations.
