June 1, 2026 • 9 mins
Fresh from the comprehensive win over Ireland, the Blackcaps arrived inn London for Test Week with some encouraging news. Not only is the team fully fit but they also received the news that one of the previous injured players was back to full fitness and ready to play at Lords.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talk set B.
Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on
iHeartRadio and take another pat.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
It's entering, it is out, the test is over, couldn't
smoke fous a beauty? This out and here he goes
distlivery has any users devolved.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
On the front Post where Brian Waddell and Jeremy Coney.
He's powered by News Talks d B at iHeart Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Test Week and the news keeps getting better, positive progress
following the command and victory over Ireland in Belfa. Hello,
an extra edition of On the Front Foot. As we
hear from black Caps coach Rob Walter. On arrival in
London for the Lord's Test, he was greeting with views
that Mitt Santner is fits and able to join the team. Rob,
(01:08):
Is that an indication that you're playing the test?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Ah?
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Not not necessarily, just obviously happy that he's turning his
fitness around so quickly, setting a lot quicker than we expected,
which is awesome. It's off to him has worked incredibly
hard along the staff, so yeah, just great that he
could join the squad again.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
What are the positives you take out of the performance
in Belfast.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Oh look, I mean obviously there's a numbers a number
of them, a number of individual performances, but also collectively,
you know, sort of to come out of the back
end of our season and I've had a lot of
long format cricket for the group, a bit of downtime
from the end of the season and then into a
(01:52):
couple of weeks of prep and straight into a Test match.
So to sort of find our test match rhythm relatively
quickly after a bit of a shaky start, within an
amazing partnership between Rutchend and Tom and then followed by Dean.
So yeah, it was great to see us sort of
respond to those conditions pretty quickly. And then from a
(02:13):
bowling point of view, obviously the entire unit tho bold
better and better as the Test went on. It was
a very good test pitch, I thought, and the guys
who were able to sort of manage the Duke's ball
wind was new and then when it gets a bit
older and softer, it was a bit more of a challenge.
But yeah, I thought we did. I thought we did
(02:33):
well as a as a unit, as I said, and
Bold in Partnerships, which is the name of the game
really in the longer format, so it's pretty happy. And
then I thought the fielding in the second the second
endings was outstanding. So yeah, a lot of a lot
of positives from a team point of view, and then
obviously individually Time and Rautchen and Dean from a batting
(02:55):
point of view, and then Nathan and Blair as individuals.
But the whole boiling unit, I thought it worked well,
excellently well together. To see Ben's hears back in whites
again and you know, running in them by well, I
thought he improved as a test went on. So yeah,
lots of little positives, but collectively of a nice strong performance.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Right, you're in test made for Lords.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
Now have you done your intel?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
I'll presume you've done your intel on the Lord's track
with what you're likely to expect how it's playing this year.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Yeah, I mean, obviously we have. We had a group
we haven't been to the ground, so we had a
bowling unit come to Lords a little bit earlier to
start their prep and they've had eyes on the pitch.
There's a bit of a bit of weather around. We'll
see how sort of that impacts the pitch develops over
the next three days. It brand oed incredibly quickly in
(03:49):
Ireland with a sort of unseasonal heat there, so we'll
see what happens from a lord's point of view. But
there's obviously a lot of historical information with lords. There's
been a couple of first class games already there this year.
It's been very hot obviously in the UK so far,
not as hot as the lead up to the Test match.
(04:11):
So but all things being equal, there's enough information there
to understand would be most likely to face on.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Top of the center and news Rob, You'll be encouraged
by the fitness past bowler Matt Henry is showing in
the pretest build up.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Yeah, he's he's all good. He bowled today while we
were traveling, being in London already, so they all, you know,
all things point to being one hundred percent foot and ready,
and I.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Suppose encourage too. I guess that you have a fully
fit pace attack with Irourke and Jamison back to full fitness.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
I know we've got every intention of having all our
fast bowlers fit, firing and ready for the first Test
for selection, so certainly not looking to manage anyone for
Game one to.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Enter the scene's role Nathan Smith has done enough to
secure the number eight batting all around the slot.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
No again, I suppose no secrets and the fact that
for me, number eight needs to be an around who
can bat and so Nathan has been that guy prior
to getting injured. So you know, if he's fully fit
and firing, then you know he owns that spot for now.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
And of course in Belfast, Tom Blundell reaffirmed his keeping
role after he copt some criticism towards the end of
the last series against the West Indies.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
To be honest, and I'm obviously just very happy for him.
I think towards the back end of the season, as
I've already said that in the media, is you could
see that he was finding his best form, specifically the
way that he was playing very true to himself and
you know, a nice positive brand of cricket, but also
(05:46):
you know, being smart about it. So he played two
very contrasting in his the back end of the plunket
shield on two very different surfaces and for me, just
seeing him being able to adapt to both those surfaces
and play that way, you know, just reaffirmed the type
of player.
Speaker 5 (06:03):
That I know he is.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
And so it kind of knew that the score was
not fire away and you know, to be honest, when
he got injured in the Test series in December, you know,
even in that twenty runs eighty scored, he's looking outstanding.
So and then he obviously did his hamstring, which was unfortunate.
So yeah, it was just a matter of when it
was going to happen for Tom. Obviously glad that it
(06:27):
happened now, and I know that'll give him great confidence,
you know, just in his game and his method.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Having a fully fit pace attack is a great starting
point for a Test where it seemed past bowling will
be a dominant feature. As Ratch and Revendra said prior
to the tour, it's good to have the trio they've got.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah, I mean, I think we have had a few
injuries last summer and it's going to be super exciting
to have those boys back. Obviously Matt Henry, who missed
the last couple of tests Blood Technic was bowling so well,
and the big man Will of Rock. I mean, there's
a lot more tollers I could list down in Nathan
Smith's coming back. Ben Sears is foot. We've got a
serious paste battery, which I'm excited in the nets, gives
(07:07):
us serious series tests. But you know, I remember will
I Rock the way he was bowling against England as
the last Test series he played Oh the bubwe actually.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
But the way he was boling was fantastic.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
So I'm looking forward to seeing him back on the
park again and truly exciting time for I guess New
Zealand cricket and it's it's fast by and battery because
we've we've got so much depth at them.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
What about your spin bowling? Have you been working on
that because there may well be opportunities for you and
the Test series over there.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Yeah, good question or always interesting with my bowling, I
think sometimes it tends to take a back seat, but yeah,
I've definitely been trying to do a little bit more
of that. Obviously, had had some opportunity to twenty World
Cut which was cool and on some occasional sporting wickets
and that was nice to get some ozon.
Speaker 5 (07:49):
But obviously we know.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Test cricket's a different beast so with a different ball,
and I'm trying to be a bit more so consistent,
so I'll be I'll be working on that and trying
to tough when I can.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Do you have to perhaps ignore what happened last time
New Zealand was over there three nil beaten by England
in the Test series because you've got million of the
same players still going over for the two Test series.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah, I mean the beauty of things like that is
will be four years ago now really, so I guess
that a little bit has changed and in terms of
they're set up and ours too, But look there, they're
a quality side whenever and we know how good they
are and test cricket and the way they play. So
for us it's going back and seeing what we potentially
did wrong and what we could, you know, do right.
(08:33):
But again they played some amazing cricket during a stage
and you know, teams allowed to play.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well on the front foot. Will be following the action.
Jeremy Coney's on site broadcasting the three Tests with the
BBC Test Match Special Team. We look forward to hearing
from Jerry and those disabled to speak to following the
tests and hopefully a series win for the Black Beats.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
Cheers for more from News Talks.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
There'd be listen live on air or online and keep
our shows with you wherever you go with our podcasts
on iHeartRadio,
You're listening to a podcast from News Talk set B.
Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on
iHeartRadio and take another pat.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
It's entering, it is out, the test is over, couldn't
smoke fous a beauty? This out and here he goes
distlivery has any users devolved.
Speaker 1 (00:36):
On the front Post where Brian Waddell and Jeremy Coney.
He's powered by News Talks d B at iHeart Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:48):
Test Week and the news keeps getting better, positive progress
following the command and victory over Ireland in Belfa. Hello,
an extra edition of On the Front Foot. As we
hear from black Caps coach Rob Walter. On arrival in
London for the Lord's Test, he was greeting with views
that Mitt Santner is fits and able to join the team. Rob,
(01:08):
Is that an indication that you're playing the test?
Speaker 3 (01:11):
Ah?
Speaker 4 (01:12):
Not not necessarily, just obviously happy that he's turning his
fitness around so quickly, setting a lot quicker than we expected,
which is awesome. It's off to him has worked incredibly
hard along the staff, so yeah, just great that he
could join the squad again.
Speaker 2 (01:29):
What are the positives you take out of the performance
in Belfast.
Speaker 4 (01:32):
Oh look, I mean obviously there's a numbers a number
of them, a number of individual performances, but also collectively,
you know, sort of to come out of the back
end of our season and I've had a lot of
long format cricket for the group, a bit of downtime
from the end of the season and then into a
(01:52):
couple of weeks of prep and straight into a Test match.
So to sort of find our test match rhythm relatively
quickly after a bit of a shaky start, within an
amazing partnership between Rutchend and Tom and then followed by Dean.
So yeah, it was great to see us sort of
respond to those conditions pretty quickly. And then from a
(02:13):
bowling point of view, obviously the entire unit tho bold
better and better as the Test went on. It was
a very good test pitch, I thought, and the guys
who were able to sort of manage the Duke's ball
wind was new and then when it gets a bit
older and softer, it was a bit more of a challenge.
But yeah, I thought we did. I thought we did
(02:33):
well as a as a unit, as I said, and
Bold in Partnerships, which is the name of the game
really in the longer format, so it's pretty happy. And
then I thought the fielding in the second the second
endings was outstanding. So yeah, a lot of a lot
of positives from a team point of view, and then
obviously individually Time and Rautchen and Dean from a batting
(02:55):
point of view, and then Nathan and Blair as individuals.
But the whole boiling unit, I thought it worked well,
excellently well together. To see Ben's hears back in whites
again and you know, running in them by well, I
thought he improved as a test went on. So yeah,
lots of little positives, but collectively of a nice strong performance.
Speaker 2 (03:16):
Right, you're in test made for Lords.
Speaker 5 (03:18):
Now have you done your intel?
Speaker 2 (03:20):
I'll presume you've done your intel on the Lord's track
with what you're likely to expect how it's playing this year.
Speaker 4 (03:28):
Yeah, I mean, obviously we have. We had a group
we haven't been to the ground, so we had a
bowling unit come to Lords a little bit earlier to
start their prep and they've had eyes on the pitch.
There's a bit of a bit of weather around. We'll
see how sort of that impacts the pitch develops over
the next three days. It brand oed incredibly quickly in
(03:49):
Ireland with a sort of unseasonal heat there, so we'll
see what happens from a lord's point of view. But
there's obviously a lot of historical information with lords. There's
been a couple of first class games already there this year.
It's been very hot obviously in the UK so far,
not as hot as the lead up to the Test match.
(04:11):
So but all things being equal, there's enough information there
to understand would be most likely to face on.
Speaker 2 (04:17):
Top of the center and news Rob, You'll be encouraged
by the fitness past bowler Matt Henry is showing in
the pretest build up.
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Yeah, he's he's all good. He bowled today while we
were traveling, being in London already, so they all, you know,
all things point to being one hundred percent foot and ready,
and I.
Speaker 2 (04:35):
Suppose encourage too. I guess that you have a fully
fit pace attack with Irourke and Jamison back to full fitness.
Speaker 4 (04:42):
I know we've got every intention of having all our
fast bowlers fit, firing and ready for the first Test
for selection, so certainly not looking to manage anyone for
Game one to.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Enter the scene's role Nathan Smith has done enough to
secure the number eight batting all around the slot.
Speaker 4 (04:59):
No again, I suppose no secrets and the fact that
for me, number eight needs to be an around who
can bat and so Nathan has been that guy prior
to getting injured. So you know, if he's fully fit
and firing, then you know he owns that spot for now.
Speaker 2 (05:16):
And of course in Belfast, Tom Blundell reaffirmed his keeping
role after he copt some criticism towards the end of
the last series against the West Indies.
Speaker 4 (05:25):
To be honest, and I'm obviously just very happy for him.
I think towards the back end of the season, as
I've already said that in the media, is you could
see that he was finding his best form, specifically the
way that he was playing very true to himself and
you know, a nice positive brand of cricket, but also
(05:46):
you know, being smart about it. So he played two
very contrasting in his the back end of the plunket
shield on two very different surfaces and for me, just
seeing him being able to adapt to both those surfaces
and play that way, you know, just reaffirmed the type
of player.
Speaker 5 (06:03):
That I know he is.
Speaker 4 (06:05):
And so it kind of knew that the score was
not fire away and you know, to be honest, when
he got injured in the Test series in December, you know,
even in that twenty runs eighty scored, he's looking outstanding.
So and then he obviously did his hamstring, which was unfortunate.
So yeah, it was just a matter of when it
was going to happen for Tom. Obviously glad that it
(06:27):
happened now, and I know that'll give him great confidence,
you know, just in his game and his method.
Speaker 2 (06:32):
Having a fully fit pace attack is a great starting
point for a Test where it seemed past bowling will
be a dominant feature. As Ratch and Revendra said prior
to the tour, it's good to have the trio they've got.
Speaker 3 (06:44):
Yeah, I mean, I think we have had a few
injuries last summer and it's going to be super exciting
to have those boys back. Obviously Matt Henry, who missed
the last couple of tests Blood Technic was bowling so well,
and the big man Will of Rock. I mean, there's
a lot more tollers I could list down in Nathan
Smith's coming back. Ben Sears is foot. We've got a
serious paste battery, which I'm excited in the nets, gives
(07:07):
us serious series tests. But you know, I remember will
I Rock the way he was bowling against England as
the last Test series he played Oh the bubwe actually.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
But the way he was boling was fantastic.
Speaker 3 (07:17):
So I'm looking forward to seeing him back on the
park again and truly exciting time for I guess New
Zealand cricket and it's it's fast by and battery because
we've we've got so much depth at them.
Speaker 2 (07:26):
What about your spin bowling? Have you been working on
that because there may well be opportunities for you and
the Test series over there.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
Yeah, good question or always interesting with my bowling, I
think sometimes it tends to take a back seat, but yeah,
I've definitely been trying to do a little bit more
of that. Obviously, had had some opportunity to twenty World
Cut which was cool and on some occasional sporting wickets
and that was nice to get some ozon.
Speaker 5 (07:49):
But obviously we know.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Test cricket's a different beast so with a different ball,
and I'm trying to be a bit more so consistent,
so I'll be I'll be working on that and trying
to tough when I can.
Speaker 2 (07:58):
Do you have to perhaps ignore what happened last time
New Zealand was over there three nil beaten by England
in the Test series because you've got million of the
same players still going over for the two Test series.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
Yeah, I mean the beauty of things like that is
will be four years ago now really, so I guess
that a little bit has changed and in terms of
they're set up and ours too, But look there, they're
a quality side whenever and we know how good they
are and test cricket and the way they play. So
for us it's going back and seeing what we potentially
did wrong and what we could, you know, do right.
(08:33):
But again they played some amazing cricket during a stage
and you know, teams allowed to play.
Speaker 2 (08:37):
Well on the front foot. Will be following the action.
Jeremy Coney's on site broadcasting the three Tests with the
BBC Test Match Special Team. We look forward to hearing
from Jerry and those disabled to speak to following the
tests and hopefully a series win for the Black Beats.
Speaker 5 (08:55):
Cheers for more from News Talks.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
There'd be listen live on air or online and keep
our shows with you wherever you go with our podcasts
on iHeartRadio,
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