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Ian Smith: Brendon McCullum shows Blackcaps fans what they're missing out on
Ian Smith • December 11th, 2024 11:00 am
Photo: Photosport
The Kiwi in me wants Harry Brook to nick one first ball in Hamilton this weekend and for someone to catch it.
But the commentator and cricket enthusiast in me does not. I love watching him bat. I love talking about it.
New Zealand have had plans for him but, I think it's fair to say, they've been largely unsuccessful.
The way he goes about countering them is like an explosive game of chess. He's a bit of a bully, but far from a flat-track one. Hagley and the Basin have fairly generous boundaries, but that's by modern standards.
Seddon Park does not. I'm predicting if they don't get Harry early, there'll be some serious arm-raising this weekend and that'll be by the umpires.
England were always super motivated to come here and play well, despite their lack of interest, it seems, in the World Test Championship. Baz wanted to put on a show, maybe to show what - in him - we are missing out on.
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Also, their two leaders - Ben Stokes and Joe Root - had personal reasons. As soon as the trophy for the series was beautifully crafted and named the Crowe-Thorpe, it became of real significance.
Stokes and Root carried Graham Thorpe's casket from the church at the conclusion of his funeral. So for them, this runs a little deeper than the norm. Maybe that dual celebration of Root's 100 in Wellington had a little more significance than we all realised.
Anyway, they won it. Job done and job done extremely well.
Now the dead rubber, for want of a much better term. What do we do with Tim Southee? Because it could be Timmy's last test and we have heard from Captain Tom Latham that it will be a grand occasion.
I can't imagine wearing a green bib and carrying out drinks will be so grand for Tim after his fantastic long service. Let's not deny the majority of it has been just that.
But if a player for the future is sacrificed to make way to celebrate the past, what does that say about the importance of a Test match?
For me, it's as plain and simple as that.
Sport Nation has live ball-by-ball commentary of the final Test match between the Blackcaps and England from December 14 - available on all NZ frequencies and the new Sport Nation app - available on App Store and Google Play.
