It ended with sombre embraces in the middle of the Melbourne Cricket Ground, but falling well short in the World Cup final hasn’t changed New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum’s opinion.
“It was a helluva ride.”
While Australia were soaking up the adulation of the 93,000-strong crowd, McCullum and his men were left to reflect on a performance below the standards set in winning their eight previous games.
They were joined later in the dressing room by Prime Minister John Key and ailing former captain Martin Crowe, who both asked the team to consider the bigger picture.
McCullum’s men had captured New Zealand’s imagination on their way to a first final.
He was adamant his team hadn’t suffered stage fright as Australia marched to a fifth world title.
“It would have been great to get the silverware, but I think what we’ve been able to achieve will last for a long time,” McCullum said.
“It’s never nice running second but sometimes you have to doff your cap to the winner.
“They were too good. On the occasion, they delivered.”
McCullum’s first-over dismissal for a duck was a blow from which they never recovered.
He felt they were in the game when Grant Elliott (83) and Ross Taylor (40) took New Zealand to 3-150 before Australia’s lethal pace attack ran through them for 183.
Luck didn’t go their way in the field, as retiring Australian skipper Michael Clarke (74) and captain-in-waiting Steven Smith (56no) helped to end a one-sided contest in the 34th over.
McCullum had no option but to attack, a method he says had served them well for the last six weeks, but was trumped by quality opposition.
He is adamant they must persist with that assertive approach if they are to remain a top-level force in one-day internationals.
“There’s an element of fearlessness about how we play which has an affect on other teams.
“If you ask most of the teams in this tournament what they think of how we played the game, they would be very respectful of how we’ve gone about it.”
The team return home on Tuesday and a formal event to mark their achievement is planned for Auckland later that day.
McCullum says the support of New Zealand’s public and the boost to cricket is his greatest personal reward.
There is also something more tangible to store away. The New Zealand players will each receive about $NZ200,000 ($A193,948) in prize money.
Build your own fantasy cricket team and put it to the test with Draftstars daily fantasy competitions. Pick your match, pick your team and watch the points roll in to take out cash prizes on each match. What are you really gambling with? Set a deposit limit.
New Test, same result, same problems for Australia as they finish their tour of New Zealand with a fifth win from five matches. Christchurch,…
At the beginning of this second Test between New Zealand and Australia, the Australians formed a guard of honour for Marais Erasmus standing in…
With his place as Australian wicketkeeper suddenly in jeopardy after a poor run of scores with the bat, Alex Carey's brilliant unbeaten 98 to…
It was 50 years ago that New Zealand recorded their first Test Cricket win over Australia.
A five-wicket haul from Josh Hazlewood helped Australia run through New Zealand on the first day in Christchurch, but familiar batting woes have prevented…
New Zealand have tapped uncapped quick Ben Sears for the second Test against Australia, ending hopes of a farewell outing for retired Black Caps…
