September 14, 2024 • 6 mins
The Black Caps are itching to finally play some cricket ahead of their test series in Sri Lanka.
Not a single ball was bowled during their five-day warm up with Afghanistan after it was washed out.
New Zealand's last test was against Australia in March.
Coach Gary Stead joined Piney to discuss.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The black Caps are on their way to Sri Lanka,
where they'll play two Test matches against the home side,
both at Gaul International Stadium, the first of which starts
on Wednesday, weather permitting, of course. Speaking of the weather,
of course, the scheduled only Test between New Zealand and
Afghanistan in India was completely abandoned due to rain. Not
(00:34):
a single ball bowled across the five days, so any
useful preparation that that might have provided completely lost to
the black Caps. Unfortunately. Coach of the side is Gary Steed,
who joins us now. How do you reflect back on
the last week, Gary and the frustration of not being
able to get any cricket in at all.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yeah, I mean it was frustrating that we couldn't get
on and play cricket, but unfortunately the amount of rainment
that came down made that sort of just a reality
for us that we're looking or to get into Sri
Lanka now is obviously a big Test series in front
of us and starting in four or five days from now.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Did it ever feel at any stage during the week
like you might get some cricketer.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Yeah, not really.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
I mean the sun obviously shine a little bit in
the first couple of days, but that I think it
was twelve hundred millimeters of rain over that sort of
week period, so days three, four or five it didn't
really stop raining at all. So yeah, it became pretty unrealistic.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
So how did you win the players past the time?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Look, I mean the guys you generally go down to
the ground early and just wait, wait until the game's
either abandoned for the day and head back go to
the gym.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
There's a bit of cards.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Or monopoly deal or some scouting of the opposition and
hallway cricket as well, so we've got a we had
a nice little area there that guys could just make
around a.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Week bit some cricket and I guess how disappointing though?
Was this garry as a missed opportunity ahead of you know,
some big Test matches against Sri Lanka and India.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
Yeah, there's no doubt it is a missed opportunity.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
I mean, whilst there's no wild Tiess Championship points on it,
it was still the opportunity for us I think to
get match hardened and get in that I guess, real
real game practice and unfortunately that it wasn't to be
the case. But the sort of the reasons that are
out of our control.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Does it make the Sri Lankan series more difficult without
having had that warm up game if.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
You like, But it definitely makes it more difficult.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
But look, we had three really good camps at home
before we got over here on turning wickets, so it's
not like guys haven't been preparing well. It just means
that there's been a little bit of downtime. We still
managed to train leading into the Test match and one
of the days during the Test match as well, so
(03:03):
it's not like the guys have been sitting doing absolutely nothing.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Sure link out. How do you assess the threat that
they'll present to you in these two Test matches?
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Yeah, me and Sri Lanka are always tough, especially in their
home conditions, and they've got a very good record at
goal where we're playing both Test matches as well, so
we're going.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
To have to play very well.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
They are familiar with their conditions. It's one of the
reasons we have bought rangin our here on board with
us as well. He understands those local conditions and hopefully
he can assist us in our thinking when it comes.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
To match time.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Can you tell us a bit more about what he's added.
Presumably he's been a valuable addition as you prepare for
these matches.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Absolutely. I mean we've had rangin Aran for this last
Test match and also Vikarim Latour as well, who was
the Indian adding coach and under Rahal Dravid. So we
have tried to, I guess get those guys.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
In and around our group.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
And whilst there wasn't played, there's still certainly plenty of
discussions that have been going on.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Have you got an indication as to whether the weather
will be better in Sri Lanka?
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Yeah? I would expect it will be, but look, I
mean we can't again, we can't control those things. So
we'll get down there prepared as well as we can
and hopefully we get five five great days.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
And do you feel confident you can match the Sri
Lankans and these two Test matches?
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Last time we went to Sri Lanka we had a
one all draw with them in the Test series, so
we certainly know we can win over there. But then
they'll be buoyed by their recent Test victory over England
and England as well, so they are certainly playing a
good brand of cricket as well.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
But I mean, you come back to to.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Sri Lanka, I'm sure their makeup of their team will
look different as well as ours does from our home.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Conditions and a current look at the World Test Championship
table shows you've got some work to do if you
want to make another World Test Championship final, including winning
a few of these upcoming tests on the subcontinent, and
they get Sri Lanka and against India. Is that a
daunting prospect for you, Gary, Look.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
It's not something we think about a lot. We know
where we sit at the moment. To make that final,
you've got to be in the top two teams, which
normally means you're going to be up around that sixty
to seventy percent sort of area win rates. So that
means we probably have to win five or six of
the next nine tests and that is going to be
a tough ass, but I think this team is capable
(05:26):
of it.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
All right. Thanks for joining us, Gary, appreciate it all
the best for these two Test matches, Gary Stead coach
of the black Caps. First Test against f Lanka starts
on Wednesday, pretty friendly viewing times for us on the
side of the world. Four thirty in the afternoon the
day's play will start, so go through to close to
midnight presumably, and let's hope there's actually some cricket to watch.
By the sounds of it and by the looks of
the forecast and the weather conditions in Gaul compared to
(05:51):
where they were in India for the Afghanistan Test, it
looks as though cricket is a lot more likely.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Faine, Listen live
to News Talk z B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine
from Newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
The black Caps are on their way to Sri Lanka,
where they'll play two Test matches against the home side,
both at Gaul International Stadium, the first of which starts
on Wednesday, weather permitting, of course. Speaking of the weather,
of course, the scheduled only Test between New Zealand and
Afghanistan in India was completely abandoned due to rain. Not
(00:34):
a single ball bowled across the five days, so any
useful preparation that that might have provided completely lost to
the black Caps. Unfortunately. Coach of the side is Gary Steed,
who joins us now. How do you reflect back on
the last week, Gary and the frustration of not being
able to get any cricket in at all.
Speaker 3 (00:54):
Yeah, I mean it was frustrating that we couldn't get
on and play cricket, but unfortunately the amount of rainment
that came down made that sort of just a reality
for us that we're looking or to get into Sri
Lanka now is obviously a big Test series in front
of us and starting in four or five days from now.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Did it ever feel at any stage during the week
like you might get some cricketer.
Speaker 4 (01:20):
Yeah, not really.
Speaker 3 (01:21):
I mean the sun obviously shine a little bit in
the first couple of days, but that I think it
was twelve hundred millimeters of rain over that sort of
week period, so days three, four or five it didn't
really stop raining at all. So yeah, it became pretty unrealistic.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
So how did you win the players past the time?
Speaker 3 (01:40):
Look, I mean the guys you generally go down to
the ground early and just wait, wait until the game's
either abandoned for the day and head back go to
the gym.
Speaker 4 (01:50):
There's a bit of cards.
Speaker 3 (01:53):
Or monopoly deal or some scouting of the opposition and
hallway cricket as well, so we've got a we had
a nice little area there that guys could just make
around a.
Speaker 2 (02:04):
Week bit some cricket and I guess how disappointing though?
Was this garry as a missed opportunity ahead of you know,
some big Test matches against Sri Lanka and India.
Speaker 4 (02:13):
Yeah, there's no doubt it is a missed opportunity.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
I mean, whilst there's no wild Tiess Championship points on it,
it was still the opportunity for us I think to
get match hardened and get in that I guess, real
real game practice and unfortunately that it wasn't to be
the case. But the sort of the reasons that are
out of our control.
Speaker 2 (02:35):
Does it make the Sri Lankan series more difficult without
having had that warm up game if.
Speaker 4 (02:40):
You like, But it definitely makes it more difficult.
Speaker 3 (02:43):
But look, we had three really good camps at home
before we got over here on turning wickets, so it's
not like guys haven't been preparing well. It just means
that there's been a little bit of downtime. We still
managed to train leading into the Test match and one
of the days during the Test match as well, so
(03:03):
it's not like the guys have been sitting doing absolutely nothing.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
Sure link out. How do you assess the threat that
they'll present to you in these two Test matches?
Speaker 3 (03:12):
Yeah, me and Sri Lanka are always tough, especially in their
home conditions, and they've got a very good record at
goal where we're playing both Test matches as well, so
we're going.
Speaker 4 (03:20):
To have to play very well.
Speaker 3 (03:22):
They are familiar with their conditions. It's one of the
reasons we have bought rangin our here on board with
us as well. He understands those local conditions and hopefully
he can assist us in our thinking when it comes.
Speaker 4 (03:36):
To match time.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
Can you tell us a bit more about what he's added.
Presumably he's been a valuable addition as you prepare for
these matches.
Speaker 4 (03:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (03:43):
Absolutely. I mean we've had rangin Aran for this last
Test match and also Vikarim Latour as well, who was
the Indian adding coach and under Rahal Dravid. So we
have tried to, I guess get those guys.
Speaker 4 (03:58):
In and around our group.
Speaker 3 (03:59):
And whilst there wasn't played, there's still certainly plenty of
discussions that have been going on.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
Have you got an indication as to whether the weather
will be better in Sri Lanka?
Speaker 3 (04:10):
Yeah? I would expect it will be, but look, I
mean we can't again, we can't control those things. So
we'll get down there prepared as well as we can
and hopefully we get five five great days.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
And do you feel confident you can match the Sri
Lankans and these two Test matches?
Speaker 4 (04:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (04:24):
Last time we went to Sri Lanka we had a
one all draw with them in the Test series, so
we certainly know we can win over there. But then
they'll be buoyed by their recent Test victory over England
and England as well, so they are certainly playing a
good brand of cricket as well.
Speaker 4 (04:40):
But I mean, you come back to to.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
Sri Lanka, I'm sure their makeup of their team will
look different as well as ours does from our home.
Speaker 2 (04:48):
Conditions and a current look at the World Test Championship
table shows you've got some work to do if you
want to make another World Test Championship final, including winning
a few of these upcoming tests on the subcontinent, and
they get Sri Lanka and against India. Is that a
daunting prospect for you, Gary, Look.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
It's not something we think about a lot. We know
where we sit at the moment. To make that final,
you've got to be in the top two teams, which
normally means you're going to be up around that sixty
to seventy percent sort of area win rates. So that
means we probably have to win five or six of
the next nine tests and that is going to be
a tough ass, but I think this team is capable
(05:26):
of it.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
All right. Thanks for joining us, Gary, appreciate it all
the best for these two Test matches, Gary Stead coach
of the black Caps. First Test against f Lanka starts
on Wednesday, pretty friendly viewing times for us on the
side of the world. Four thirty in the afternoon the
day's play will start, so go through to close to
midnight presumably, and let's hope there's actually some cricket to watch.
By the sounds of it and by the looks of
the forecast and the weather conditions in Gaul compared to
(05:51):
where they were in India for the Afghanistan Test, it
looks as though cricket is a lot more likely.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Faine, Listen live
to News Talk z B weekends from midday or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio.
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