Return to Christchurch, New Zealand, and relive the past

Is there a sport that embodies nostalgia more than cricket? The tales, people, stories, and banter. When a group of former champions get together for a night out and share old war memories, there’s an exceptional level of nostalgia. As was the case, albeit in a different location, inside the Sir Richard Hadlee Pavilion on the eve of the second Test, when a few of New Zealand’s historical icons gathered to discuss their nation’s historic first-ever Test victory over Australia precisely 50 years prior in Christchurch.

Dayle Hadlee, Jeremy Coney, Richard Collinge, former captain Glenn Turner, and Sir Richard Hadlee himself were all present on the panel. Chris Harris and Mark Greatbatch, two members of the Black Caps’ more recent but still very senior generation, were also there. Along with some entertaining viewpoints and anecdotes about the Chappells, you couldn’t help but be drawn into not only their experiences but also their excitement over defeating the formidable Aussies for the first time.

It also begged the question of how dejected this group would be given the prolonged series of defeats the New Zealand teams have experienced over the past 30 years. These men were trailblazers, demonstrating to their own countrymen that they were as capable of facing and defeating the powerful and larger brothers on the other side of the river. And for the next sixteen or so years. New Zealand occasionally even came out on top in matches between the two sides. Then followed the wave of Australian cricketers in the 1990s and the subsequent decline in New Zealand’s fortunes that continued for another three decades.

The present group could also use all the motivation they can get. It’s not as if any of them attended the second Test’s eve. If only they could rediscover what others who came before them accomplished fifty years ago, it would improve their spirits. They will need to put on a spectacular display to make up for the crushing defeat in Wellington during this two-game series. They will also find comfort in the fact that they have historically outperformed other teams on this field.  If Australia is the stronger team here as well after winning their previous meeting at Hagley in 2016.

 

If past performance is not enough, they can always rely on the fact that two of their most enduring players. Tim Southee and Kane Williamson. He will be playing their 100th Test match together. Anything to slow the Australian juggernaut. Which will finally stop in Christchurch after a protracted journey. This group has played 21 Tests over 18 months, and as Pat Cummins noted. They want to finish on a high note before taking another 8 months off from Test cricket. Therefore, if the Kiwis can pull this off, it won’t be surprising if these players come together eventually. It will require something extremely exceptional from them.

What to expect: Christchurch can feel a bit still in many ways. Especially after being thrown from one extreme to the other in windy Wellington. Even if the majority of the city is lovely and peaceful. There are constant reminders of the horrible event that occurred about 15 years ago. And from which this community has had to recover. In contrast to the nation’s capital, Christchurch experiences more reliable weather. The next few days are expected to be nice with no chance of rain.

The Hagley pitch has 12 mm of grass on it, but the heat dried off a lot of the greenness. Resulting in a stark difference in color. The curator did clarify, for readers in India only. This surface was nothing like what we saw for India four years prior. When the outfield and pitch appeared to be interchangeable.