The Black Caps are riding the increased wave of support from the public as they head into the opening test against England in Christchurch, starting this morning.
Day three on Saturday is sold out, while minimal tickets remain to today's opening day.
Black Caps all-rounder Rachin Ravindra told Mike Hosking the team's historic whitewash in India has helped the cause.
He says that there’s a lot more people congratulating them for their efforts in India as they’re walking around.
“That’s what we want right? We want the public to be behind us, and hopefully we can keep inspiring people to keep playing the game.”
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Episode Transcript
Black Caps are about to get their summer of cricket underway,
first of three Tests against England. McGinn's in the Garden
City this morning. Russian Ravender is with us.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Very good morning, Good morning, Mike harvy Man.
Speaker 1 (00:08):
Very well. How's the week been by way of build up?
Speaker 2 (00:11):
Yeah, it's been good. Obviously Test week's always an exciting
time and we've been able to get underway and seeing
all the boys again is always fun. So it's been
a good sofer.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
And do you have a personal attachment to christ Church
in terms? I mean, to my eye, it's the most
beautiful place to play test cricket. Do you agree or
is there somewhere else for you?
Speaker 2 (00:29):
I can't completely agree with you there. I do really
like the city christ Church, and I love the Grand
hagli ovel, but I think Wellington based Reserve takes the cake.
Obviously I'm a little biased in that place, but that's
the one for me.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
And they tell do you have any indication of tickets
for Christias Because they're told I'm told Wellington's a sellout
or virtually a sellout.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
I'm pretty sure it's hitting that way, if not already
that way at Hagley it's pretty cool to see the
interest in the series and loving you doing, public getting
behind us, and I mean home summer, packed out crowd.
Nothing really better, is it? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (01:01):
Exactly? So how much do you reckon of what happened
in India has led to this then and the increased
level of interest in expectation?
Speaker 2 (01:08):
Yeah, obviously it's always hard to tell, but I feel
like there is. There's a lot more I use people
when walking around just saying congratulations, well done in India
and stuff, which is cool. I think. I feel like
the viewership was through the roof of currict and specially
with it starting at five pm, was great time for
people after work, et cetera. But I mean that's what
we want, right, We want the public to behind us
(01:30):
and hopefully we can keep inspiring people to keep playing
the game and more than the cricket itself, also being
good people off the pat two and in our little
interactions that we have with fans. So that's that's important
to us too.
Speaker 1 (01:40):
And do you walk tall of because of India or
does the precious sitting going? Jeez, we did that? We
better carry on.
Speaker 2 (01:48):
I think as a group, I think we're pretty good
at managing that expectation plus you know confidence. Look, we're
as a group war is confident in our ability and
we trust each other to go out there and do
the job. But at the end of the day we
knowing a good side and challenging side too, but also
understanding the conditions are very different to India, so it's
a different ball game. But you do take you know,
my menterm and stuff plays plays a big factor, but
(02:10):
at the end of the day, it's a new series,
completely clean slate, so we'll go out there with that mindset.
I think, do you.
Speaker 1 (02:15):
Place a lot of weight on the home team ground advantage?
Speaker 2 (02:20):
I guess so, but also understanding that England playing very
similar conditions too, you know fast ball, the dominant swing,
swing conditions, nipping conditions, so it's not too fine for them.
So I'd say it's a little more balanced than say,
you know, us sitting to India was spinning and stuff,
completely different conditions.
Speaker 1 (02:36):
Okay, here's the thing we came up with on the
show the other day. I asked the question, guy Hevelt,
who's into cricket. He backed you guys, But I asked
this question Auckland FC football right first year in the league,
Top of the table, they go and win the whole
competition in their first year. Is that the Hellberg Prize
winning team of the year or is it the black
(02:57):
Caps in India?
Speaker 2 (02:59):
I look, I can't. I can't come in on there.
I guess I'm too invested in one of the teams.
And also I'm sorry awkwnd if see I'm a willing
to Phoenix guy.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
All right, fair enough, listen, go well to. I appreciate
it very much. Our weathering track is all good and
it is a sellout. We can't get We're just trying
now to get a ticket, but we can't. For more
from the Mic Asking Breakfast, listen live to news talks.
It'd be from six am weekdays, or follow the podcast
on iHeartRadio.
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