PUNE: A New Zealand journalist performed the Haka – a traditional ceremonial dance performed with and aggressive body language and war cries – during skipper Tom Latham‘s post-match press conference.
Latham did not appear to have liked it. He didn’t stop the man, neither did he smile. But he sighed in relief after the sequence, which included a salute to the winning team.
New Zealand are that kind of team. They don’t like theatrics, at least in public. They prefer to show what they are made of on the big stage.
After losing the Test series in Sri Lanka, they would have been disheartened. Pacer Tim Southee resigned as captain after the defeat and Latham got the reins. Their track record in India (36 Tests, 17 defeats, two wins) was not too encouraging either. And now within a fortnight, they have won two wins, including a precious series win in India on their 14th attempt (11 loses, two draws).
“We did not play too badly in Sri Lanka. They scored eight 50s but no hundred. But the results didn’t go our way,” said Latham, who had captained the Kiwis in nine games before the India tour, winning four and losing five.
“We tried to analyse what went wrong.” The Lanka tour probably helped them acclimatize to subcontinent conditions. They also realized their ultra-defensive ways against Indian spinners in 2016 was incorrect. They also missed Kane Williamson, their best Test batter in recent history, due to injury.
“All we try to do is improve our game,” said Latham. “In each part of the game and process, regardless of who is the captain.”
New Zealand had beaten India in the semis of the 2019 ODI World Cup in Manchester and the 2021 WTC final in Southampton. Their women won the World T20 crown recently.
They are not to be taken lightly. They have the ability to adapt and punch above their weight.
#Adaptable #Zealand #show #lightly #Cricket #News #Times #India
