New Zealand's bad WTC cycle |

[@JazzKaioshin]

RIP the NZ pace quartet of Southee, Boult, Jamieson and Wagner. It's almost impossible for those 4 to play in the same test again, with Boult being released from his central contract and injuries to Jamieson and Wagner. I think those four played such a key role in the success of WTC1, whereas in the recent NZ tests at home the bowling attack looks considerably less threatening. It's very interesting to see that the batting has actually improved between cycles but the potency of the bowling has declined, I thought after Taylor and Watling retired the middle order would struggle but they've stood up brilliantly.

[@willmather4046]

Great video Jarrod. I think NZs pace attack is getting towards the end of a cycle in large part. Add to that Jamieson having some injury problems and NZ has looked a little toothless. It'll be interesting to see how well the new generation of bowlers can bed in and reinvigorate the attack. Boult, Southee, and Wagner are probably NZs best ever triumvirate so replacing them seems like mission impossible. Sidenote picking Kuggeleijn for that one match was both an ethical and tactical disgrace.

[@Dilmahkana]

Triumvirate? New word for me!

[@kennethcrowther2277]

@@HkFinn83 that remains to be seen.

[@kennethcrowther2277]

Why? Kuggeleijn was acquitted if rape charges. Are you someone believes someone should always be tarnished by accusation alone?

[@MattyStarfish]

I think we can put 11 great players on the field, but the moment we have injuries or rest players is when we get in trouble. At one stage we had some good depth, but not lately.

[@Bevan-z6b]

They don't have, blokes recently, who are knocking the doors, that's a simple answer.. Take my Question, Who is NZ Cricket next best young bat?? After Kane Williamson, Tim Southee, Dariyl Mitchell, who are next best young bat??

[@mathewquivooy393]

Cricket is a game of skill (and luck).

[@kennethcrowther2277]

Correction. Williamson and Wagner scrambled a single off the last ball of the 5th day to win, and avoid drawing with Sri Lanka, not losing to them.

[@AbhishekKumar-dh5vg]

I guess it's called *tie* not a draw

[@kennethcrowther2277]

@@AbhishekKumar-dh5vg no. It's only a tie if the side chasing is all out with the scores tied. NZ were 8 down at the last ball and had Williamson been run, it would've technically been a draw with the scores tied. As far as I know it has only happened once before between England and Zimbabwe at Harare during the 1990s. I forget what year exactly. Anyway if Williamson hadn't made his ground then the scores would've been tied with NZ 9 wickets down, which is a draw.

[@ynsimha7663]

@@kennethcrowther2277 Also India West Indies in 2013.

[@premchopra116]

@@ynsimha7663 2011

[@malcolmcowdry1282]

This test cycle feels like everybody has been chipping in but all at separate times and his added up the whole under performing. The bowling has definitely been the issue and yet also hasn't taken a massive drop.5 or so years ago i thought Southee was done and then he and Boult have create this fantastic partnership. Losing Boult really hurts, Southee has felt like the perfect no 2 bowler and Henry feels the same. Jamieson was a real difference maker as 1st change and Wagner was able to make something happen when nothing else is. Watching the batting improvements, has been a pleasure. Conway, Blundell and Mitchell have been great upgrades. I don't like Nicholl at 4 but its hard to say Mitchell should move up and Will Young has not quite nailed it at test level. And it like its a case ill score runs today your turn next time, not all together all at once. Number 1 was probably to high the first time but full credit for take our chance. 6 is definitely too low but fall credit to the other for taking there chances. when your the champion you always get the oppositions best.

[@dhruvvarshney2938]

Great video Jarrod. Can you also review how Sri Lanka came close to be in the finals of this year's WTC.

[@indranigomes9874]

I think New Zealand lost out on many 50-50 situations that could have easily gone their way, especially against England. Their decline is not as big as it seems, they just didn't win the "big moments" as Daryl Mitchell said.

[@JustinW2980]

So effectively what you are saying is we went from Winners to 6th despite arguably having a better (or as good) side second time round. We could have and arguably should have won the series in England, that we lost 0-3. We also should have won at least one of the two tests in Pakistan. If we also don’t lose to Bangladesh in one test (possibly the greatest single upset of all time) then we are at least 3rd on the ladder and possibly ahead of India.

[@jimmy_xi9342]

Bowling looks mediocre tbh. Batting is arguably better than the previous cycle.

[@RatelHBadger]

​@@jimmy_xi9342 It's funny... On paper we have/had a brilliant bowling lineup, with depth and variety. Southee, Boult, Wagner, DeGrandhomme, Jamieson, Henry, Ferguson, Mitchell (should bowl more) and Doug Bracewell returning from the wilds. It's just looking a bit old and long in the tooth to be world beaters still. I'm still completely confused how Ajaz Patel can get 10 wickets in an innings, and just be discarded from the regular lineup after.

[@Goabnb94]

The game that really pissed me off was the South Africa loss. We started day 5 with little hope of chasing, and the morning session was positive intent cricket. But the afternoon session was "haha SlOg Go BoOm BoOm!" as though everybody else who needlessly skied the ball before them wouldn't happen again surely, right? Like, its one thing to lose because you were outplayed, but its another to throw away your wicket, and this coming from a side that has put up many hard fought defenses in the past decade, to see that level of careless batting was actually enraging.

[@Alex-jb2vb]

Love these vids Jarod

[@carlwells9504]

Cricket is a funny game alright - CDG really was the great balancing force in the lineup. Stock bowler who took useful wickets and punishing runs after good starts. Bracewell so far hasn’t shown the same with the bat but can take wickets alibet expensively. Solution bowl Mitchell more! Also finding a wicket taking 1st change bowler to replace Jamison for now would go along way- Tickner is more a Wagner type bowler.

[@strandedinparadise8202]

So the explanation is; there is no explanation! One thing that I worry about is that Williamsons ability to keep calm (as written about on cricinfo recently) affects the whole team and when he's away (or struggling) we just go back to our traditional low-confidence state which is kind of like the opposite of Australia and is why Australia always beats us. Hopefully when we retires they can just pay him to go and sit in the dressing room during games.

[@dangerrayy]

Australia usually beats NZ when they have a better side on the day. Australia have always had amazing talent. New Zealand are a proven pressure side. Current O.D.I worldcup co holders, World Test Champions and World T20 finalists. Nothing wrong with their mentality. Its the fans who are chokers

[@kennethcrowther2277]

@@dangerrayy I beg to differ. I agree that NZ are often a good side under pressure, but I do believe they've had psychological issues against Australia pretty much forever with the exception of the Hadlee era. In addition to that, they have often been insufficiently prepared when coming up against them in test cricket, often with a below full strength team. Add to that also, that simple fact that NZ gets to play test cricket against Australia a pathetically small amount both at home and away. Especially given the historic rivalry and geographical closeness. It's a shame the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy is always just played with relatively meaningless ODIs. I agree with you regarding Australia's consistently amazing talent, and they would probably still win most, if not all the series anyway, but I think with better preparation and more test match series opportunities, NZ would do better against them with our recent teams at full strength.

[@rkbaker722]

@@kennethcrowther2277 The Tests in 2024 might be the only Tests Australia play in NZ this decade. In addition, NZ & Australia are set to possibly play only 6 Tests this decade, the fewest in a decade since the 60s, when there were none. Historically, Australia were always snobs to New Zealand; even though a lot of things got in the way, it took Australia 16 years to play 1 Test (that they didn't want to count) & 43 years to host NZ for a Test. When you have a history of a relationship like that, it's hard to be close. I've just got the feeling that, playing Boxing Day 2026 aside, CA looks down at NZ, as they always have.

[@kennethcrowther2277]

@@rkbaker722 yes it's time we found the form and fire power and fortitude to give them a good hiding for it again eh.

[@rkbaker722]

@@kennethcrowther2277 At this point only beating them 3-0 over there will be enough revenge. Imagine if that actually happened. Would that be Australia's worst ever defeat at home?

[@ujjwaljain2134]

I see that new zealand tours overseas less and also try to play as many “2 match series “ as possible helping them in The ranking tables

[@RatelHBadger]

We get what we're given. Would be nice for some 3 match series, but we aren't a big enough ratings draw to warrant that extra 5 days of TV coverage in the Northern Hemisphere.

[@ujjwaljain2134]

@@RatelHBadger well they can tour more

[@RatelHBadger]

@@ujjwaljain2134 the problem with being at the back end of nowhere at the end of the world. 3 hours from Australia, 15 to South African, 13 to the Subcontinent or West Indies, 24 to England. If we toured more, the tours would be even shorter and we'd end up like this year, with no home Internationals during our summer. No one in NZ wants to watch 5 days of English test matches OVERNIGHT. Let alone a longer series, followed by a tour to India, then Sth Africa or the Caribbean. No one from those countries holds much interest for a tour to New Zealand for the same reasons. A tour to Australia for anyone has pull, as does a tour to England or India. NZ, is just cursed by geography to have limited TV viewership and international sponsorship support. We'll only ever be a Tier 2 side, that occasionally punches into a final to make sure the big dogs are awake.

[@bananarama3624]

As a frustrated NZ fan, it isn't to help us in the rankings, it is because of money. Every time we play a test, we lose money. People here would rather watch T20, then ODI, then test.

[@RatelHBadger]

@@bananarama3624 I'd hazard a guess, like any NZ sports fan. 90% are fairweather fans, and historically we have been rather successful at the shorter formats of the game, inspiring more supporters and greater crowds. Only cricket tragics turn up to watch us lose or draw after 5 days.

[@ssrini2002]

Brendon McCullum: I have won, but at what cost!

[@mk_annan22]

Top comment

[@NikhilTanna15]

Also not relevant is a bit too harsh considering their magical last twos against England and SL

[@RatelHBadger]

NZ Cricket hates spinners. Ajaz Patel, Ish Sodhi, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Michael Bracewell... Not to mention casting aside Todd Astle, and Mark Craig.

[@kiwidave8930]

I think NZ have been very hesitant to change anything, we win a few tests and simply won't change the team for anything. Wagner will play till he's 50 if they let him but he's looked ordinary at least a year. It's ok to play five seamers when you can field better than any team in the world could, but when four of that five are now unavailable they will still totally refuse to pick a spinner (Bracewell doesn't count, look at his FC bowling). Look at Conway, Blundell and Mitchell... Look at England! Change can be good.

[@prj7894]

Nz would not have qualified for the finals in the first cycle of they played overseas 😊

[@timmyb7734]

NZ had 5 top shelf spinners and kept picking Santner ahead of them, thankfully those days are over and Santner will never play a test again.

[@Wtc2325]

Without wtc , Nz would have had nothing to show for their dominance in familiar conditions ( like it was in wtc final) Their performance in this cycle makes them titular champions

[@cdn4767]

Senior let down. That’s the biggest to blame.

[@NikhilTanna15]

NZ sneaking in the first WTC final was a return of luck robbed in WC 19

[@triptidimri-oc8ue]

Henry Nichols has been terrible off late.

[@jongulus7391]

But he got an obligatory home century against [insert one of: Sri Lanka, West Indies, Bangladesh or Pakistan with a weakened bowling unit] so we have to endure 20 more matches of him being a walking wicket.

[@MattyStarfish]

Yeah he doesn't perform against the top teams. I believe the Black Caps can be a top team, but we need players who can perform against top teams.

[@francissreckofabian01]

They lost Boult, Jamieson, de Grandhomme. No mystery. You seem to suggest that the absence of those three isn't that important. I vehmently disagree. I consider ir a tad disingenuous. 3 top line bowlers replaced by lesser bowlers will hurt any Test team. Especially a country with a small population.

[@iamaheretic7829]

Tbf to them the reason they couldn't get the Pakistani tail out is because they couldn't bowl their pacers due to bad light. If they were bowling their pacers they would have probably won

[@pullasankshithkumar94]

india would have won it, strong Indian team and they worked really hard to get in finals

[@feeltheheat824]

Jarrod, do you think the performances that we saw from NZ in this WTC cycle is business-as-usual for them. And what we saw before 2021 was an anomaly?

[@kieranbrady1240]

New Zealand haven't lost a home series since 2017 and have only lost 3 away series in the same period against each member of the big 3. I think it's more of a matter of some bad luck and losing the close moments in each instance especially the Pakistan series that hurt them more than any overall decline in quality which is pretty much what Jarod has outlined in his video

[@mikespearwood3914]

@@kieranbrady1240 NZ has to beat the big 3 away to be taken seriously though. So yes, it was an anomaly due to a fair amount of luck.

[@nooneknows19]

@@mikespearwood3914 tbh the big 3 in general don’t win away from home against the other big 3 bar India winning in Australia.

[@kieranbrady1240]

@@mikespearwood3914 the big three in general don't win away from home that often either though. In fact since 2019 New Zealand has as many wins away against the big 3 as the big 3 have away against each other. Your comment is kinda brain dead if I'm being honest.

[@mikespearwood3914]

@@kieranbrady1240 That's disingenuous and misleading: NZ has only won away against England in recent history, where pitch & atmosphere conditions are similar to NZ, thus allows NZ a chance to compete. The ONLY win in Australia in 30+ years was on a lush Bellerieve track in a game that lasted 2 days, otherwise rarely even competitive. And in India...I have no idea when NZ even last won a test there. The irony was the match where Patel got his tenfor NZ lost by an innings!!!

[@maximumcricket]

I think Culture has to play it’s part, and maybe that’s to do with Williamson missing the home summer through injury against Bangladesh and South Africa

[@hasanramzan6578]

They don't have replacements for Southee, Boult, and Wagner. The batting line up is full of 30 plus players. Can see New Zealand struggling for the next few years.

[@MrYousroder]

if ICC cannot change the rules to make India qualify for the WTC, then whats the use of ICC

[@aniruddhamungekar8663]

Bro stop it. India made to 2021 WTC final because of thier stellar performance And even in 2023 WTC final they were clearly the 2nd best team of the tournament. Don't say as if only because of Icc rules India reaches final. And if Bcci has full control over Icc the Final would have been held in Neutral but subcontinental conditions both the times but it is not happening

[@haydengoodall6767]

Wasn't Kuggeleijn found not guilty of any wrong doing in a court of law?.

[@Dilmahkana]

Sure, but it's hard to not think there's an issue with the system in certain situations, especially with sportsman. "Promising sport talent" can influence things, we have seen that in the past.

[@dangerrayy]

No, he was found not guilty of breaking the law

[@GelDouche12]

Good video, could also mention the luck involved in losing a test when your spinner takes a ten-for in India.

[@jimmy_xi9342]

U should not b blaming luck if u get bundled out for 62.

[@GelDouche12]

@@jimmy_xi9342 Where's your mace bud

[@aniruddhamungekar8663]

​@@GelDouche12 New Zealand lost that Test match pretty one sided. That was not luck bro. India clearly batted well compared to New Zealand.

[@GelDouche12]

@@aniruddhamungekar8663 Babar is father of Kohli

[@aniruddhamungekar8663]

@@GelDouche12 Now where did Babar and Virat came into the argument. Ok i get it You are a pakistani . Let that flat track bully Babar score Century after century on the flatest pitches ever made in history and add his century tally

[@solidsnacksvideo5-10minute2]

Is that Smith Backing up on a Bouncer on your Tee Jarrod? Nice Tshirt ❤

[@amanamanay2692]

I think that's Kallis fending off Sreesanth in 2010