January 6th, 2021 will forever be remembered in the eyes of Blackcaps fans as the New Zealand Test team reached the number 1 spot in the ICC Test rankings for the first time in their history.
While there have been comments about how New Zealand struggle away against the bigger boys and how New Zealand don’t deserve it, the numbers show otherwise. The following will show how the current top seven ICC Test-playing nations have fared in home-and-away series since November 2017.
Australia at home: 5 home series (excluding current Border Gavaskar series), 4 series wins, 1 series loss, 80per cent success rate
Australia away: 3 away series, 1 drawn series, 2 series lost, 0per cent success rate
England at home: 6 home series, 4 series win, 2 drawn series, 67per cent success rate
England away: 6 away series, 4 series lost, 2 series won, 33per cent success rate
India at home: 3 home series, 3 series won, 100per cent success rate
India away: 5 away series (excluding current Border Gavaskar series) , 2 series won, 3 series lost, 40per cent success rate
South Africa at home: 7 home series, 5 series won, 2 series lost, 71per cent success rate
South Africa away: 2 away series, 2 series lost, 0per cent success rate
Sri Lanka at home: 3 home series, 1 series won, 1 series loss, 1 series drawn, 33per cent success rate
Sri Lanka away: 9 away series, 3 series win, 1 series drawn, 5 series lost, 33per cent success rate
Pakistan at home (UAE and Pakistan combined): 3 home series (excluding Pakistan vs Bangladesh series due to covid-19 postponing second Test), 2 series wins, 1 series loss, 67per cent win percentage
Pakistan away: 6 away series, 1 series won, 1 series drawn, 4 series lost, 17per cent win percentage
New Zealand at home: 8 home series, 8 series won, 100per cent win percentage
New Zealand away: 3 away series, 1 series won, 1 series lost, 1 series drawn, 33per cent win percentage
As the following numbers showed, only India matched New Zealand’s home success rate while also bettering New Zealand’s away success rate.
But in this time frame, New Zealand have only lost one series where it was a horror tour of Australia featuring some questionable selections in the series.
At home, they’ve had to grind out results late on day five and here are some examples.
New Zealand versus England – first Test, Auckland 2018
Despite England being bowled out for 58 94 minutes into Day 1, rain caused less than 30 overs to be played on days 2 and 3.
As the pitch flattened out in the final two days, New Zealand’s bowlers gave it their all, as a special spell from Neil Wagner ensured England were bowled out for 320 late on day five and a win was secured for the Blackcaps by an innings and 49 runs.
Whole-hearted Neil Wagner impressed at Optus Stadium. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
New Zealand versus England, Christchurch 2018
Chasing 382, New Zealand needed to bat over 120 overs to achieve the target or bat for a draw. At 6-162 in the 68th over and the well set Tom Latham departing for 83, the onus was on the Blackcaps lower order to bail themselves out of trouble.
Ish Sodhi came in at 8 ahead of Tim Southee, scoring a patient 56* off 168 deliveries, forming partnerships with Colin De Grandhomme (45 off 97) and Neil Wagner (7 off 103) as New Zealand pulled off a draw and won a Test series against England for the first time since 1999. When their backs were against the wall, New Zealand’s tail wagged for over 55 overs to pull off the improbable.
New Zealand versus England, Mt Maunganui 2019
In response to England’s 353, New Zealand were in trouble at 5-197. But a double century from BJ Watling (205) and a century from Mitchell Santner (126) propelled New Zealand’s first innings total to 9-615 declared.
England fought for a draw, but another spirited spell from Neil Wagner (5-44) on day five ensured New Zealand won by an innings and 65 runs in the final session of play on day five.
New Zealand versus Pakistan, Mt Maunganui 2020
Chasing 373 for victory, Pakistan were in strife at 4-75 2 overs into day five. But a spirited fight back from Fawad Alam (102 off 269) and Mohammad Rizwan (60 off 191) saw Pakistan remain 4 down at tea.
Just as a Pakistan win seemed possible, an injured Neil Wagner, the freakishly tall Kyle Jamieson and the spin of Mitchell Santner combined to pull off a win less than five overs away from Pakistan pulling off a draw.
At home, New Zealand have built the resilience to pull off wins and draws when it looked like the result would favour New Zealand. And this resilience and character would be required on away tours. In the first Test against Pakistan at Abu Dhabi in 2018, Pakistan were cruising towards victory at 3-130 chasing 176.
And then Neil Wagner bounces Asad Shafiq out on the stroke. The wicket would come at a crucial stage as debutant Ajaz Patel (5-59) would end up spinning New Zealand to a 4 run victory as the Blackcaps pulled off a miracle.
Come the third Test/decider, New Zealand were 4-60 in their second innings: still trailing by 14 runs. Enter Henry Nicholls. Nicholls (126*) alongside his skipper Kane Williamson (139) slowly grind New Zealand into a lead and grind Pakistan into chasing 280 on the final day on a rank turner.
With a minimum of 79 overs, New Zealand’s spin duo of Ajaz Patel and debutant Will Somerville alongside Tim Southee led New Zealand to bowl Pakistan out and become the second team after Sri Lanka to win a Test series against Pakistan in the UAE during the 2010s.
A drawn and tightly fought series against Sri Lankan on their deck showed that New Zealand had the spinners to compete and succeed on the subcontinent. The Blackcaps aren’t blessed like the Big Three to play a lot of three Test match series at home or away, yet they’ve humbly gone about their business.
With players such as Will Young, Devon Conway, Ajaz Patel, Will Somerville and Lockie Ferguson around New Zealand Test contention, the Blackcaps are entering an era where they have depth in all facets of their Test side.
This New Zealand side deserves a lot of respect for what they have achieved. The challenge will be to compete in South Africa, Australia, England and India and replicate their home success away from their home shores. They have the bowlers to succeed, but can their batsmen acclimatise in time? That’ll be the question.
While a lot of credit will be given to Gary Stead and Kane Williamson, Mike Henson and Brendon McCullum’s efforts in giving Williamson and Stead the building blocks for this Test side can’t be forgotten.
Former players such Sir Richard Hadlee and Glenn Turner will be gleaming with pride at this current New Zealand side.
mark
Guest
Aus lost at home to India and NZ beat India at home by a whitewash, plus won on neutral ground in the UK against India also. Aus drew in Eng, NZ won there. Aus lost 3-0 in SL, nz drew there. Aus lost in the UAE, the same year NZ beat Pak there 2-1. Aus have been better against NZ but worse against other teams. Aus hasn't played NZ in tests since NZ's improvements in 2020 and 2021, so would be an interesting series now.
Micko
Roar Rookie
The aboriginal angle is all he can go on Jacko. If he can't prove that then there is no other legal avenue he can pursue. You don't have to have been proven to commit a crime to be evicted from the nation Jacko. In fact no nation on Earth has an obligation to keep foreign citizens they don't want. This loophole regarding aboriginal descent Martin is using is the only one available, and it's lucky it's apparenntly worked out for him. Let's hope Martin can pull his head in now Jacko.
Yes he did commit crimes in Aus…Back in the late nineties and early 2000’s…and none met the Govt’s own guidelines or rules around deportation…But was deported in 2016 in the grounds of being “A bad Character” and it takes a more interesting turn with the Aboriginal council of Tasmania proving he has Aboriginal blood and therefore cannot be deported……
Micko
Roar Rookie
Shane Martin has committed plenty of crimes in Australia & NZ Jacko, along with a long continuous association with the same criminal bikie gangs he was warned by the feds to cease, and get a new circle of friends to turn his life around. He refused the helpful advice of the feds, hence they advised to expel him from the country.
WillowWiz
Roar Rookie
100 % with you on this!
Totally agree. When they dropped that third test on the last tour to play more one dayers - I was on the phone to the NZ sportalk shows venting my spleen. Guess what? THe same CEO responsible for that reprehensible decision, is now conceding (since we are now number 1 the clown has finally seen sense) that NZ really do need to play longer test series than just the two test "series".
Micko
Roar Rookie
You should point the finger at your own administrators too Zozza. Last time Australia toured they had a three match test series planned. They then begged the aussies to agree to scrapping the third test (to be held at the rugby ground in Auckland), so they could tack on a 3 match ODI series. NZ should actually push for FOUR test tours when the aussies tour NZ!
Micko
Roar Rookie
Don't forget that NZ cancelled a Test in their last home series against Australia, meaning a 3 test series was reduced to a 2 test series with a 3 match ODI series tacked on to it. You've got to be consistent and criticise your own administrators too instead of pointing the finger at everyone else. You should actually be pushing the aussies for FOUR match Test series in NZ. With the few different tour groups around, you'd have a travelling band of 400-500+ aussie tourists spending their money in NZ, watching cricket, sight seeing, and drinking plenty of those famous NZ wines, and eating apparently good NZ grub for a whole month or more. So it'll be a win not just for NZC administrators, but also the average cricket fans, and the NZ government as a whole! :thumbup:
Ausies to follow in Moto2 is Remi Gardner ( waynes son ) and in MotoGP its Jack Millar...He should go really well this year as he has a Ducati team ride this year after riding a non company ducati team last year....Both good riders...Remi is crazy like his old man lol
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
NZ are there today due to the idiosyncrasies of the process, not because they are actually the best. You have hit on the key difference between Australia and NZ when it comes to cricket. One strives to get to number 1 via dubious rankings whilst the other strives to actually be the best. Both have achieved their objectives it seems! Everyone will be happy to play NZ in England if it comes to that, but I suspect it won’t. Just WOW. Unfortunately Pedro, you're right about the drubbing handed out to the Black Caps last year. As a Black Caps fan it was a real opportunity and they blew it. However, given the limited opportunities the Black Caps get (refer to the amount of Tests they play above, let alone against the elite teams), you could also argue New Zealand continues to punch above its weight and may merit further consideration. I think to insinuate the Black Caps strive for success by playing minnows at home is disingenuous although I concede winning against the bigger bnames away remains the goal. Not so sure everyone will be happy to play New Zealand at a neutral venue either. Another real opportunity looms for the Black Caps and the insipid results a year ago may be a spur. Conditions at Lords with a Duke is likely to suit them actually.
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
A lot of them stayed and are now on the dole as well! Terrible thing to say mate. Besides, unlike Australian immigrants here, Kiwis are refused the benefit in your couintry. Stick to the sports Pedro...
Riccardo
Roar Rookie
Ouch Ouch... All Blacks are in a rebuilding phase. Back to back World Cups are pretty hard to argue with tho. However, maintaining those levels of excellence has proved difficult and it is true that other international sides have caught them. Good for rugby to be honest. The Wallabies under Rennie are already showing some signs of recovery which is also good for the game and that trans-tasman rivalry...
bill
Guest
Yup, and inside the last three years australia haven't won a series overseas
You sure do...I watch the moto3 moto2 and motoGp but 2 and GP are awesome.....
MarkD
Guest
Longbay ,where you met your partner. I come here regularly i just don't need to comment constantly, but you, well please do continue posting . Very entertaining
Reddy
Roar Rookie
NZ only schedule two test series matches at home because it needs t20s and Odis to break even. NZ generally only plays two test series away in India, england and Australia because those three nations play a mammoth amount of tests against each other. There lies the problem. There is very little room in their schedule to fit in other nations. How about making the ashes a smaller amount of test matches and Australia, India test matches smaller to accommodate other nations. That is how you make teams like Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Zimbabwe etc better by regularly playing the big boys. The big 3 have got alot to answer for. Yes in the short term those teams will get thrashed, but look how long it took for new Zealand to get good at test cricket. The big three are slowly running test cricket into the ground or is the goal just to have a couple of competitive test sides. New Zealand have done very well based on limited resources, small population and sheer determination to get better. The no. 1 ranking is deserved even if it is only for short time.
Lance Boil
Roar Rookie
The rivalries and the history between Test nations give a unique spicy perspective to every series. Comparatively ICC rankings aren’t very exciting and ultimately problematic. Still its always good to be on top so congrats to NZ. Cant wait for the first ball at the SCG tomorrow.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Sure, but Canadian teams play in the NBA. You've got to call your sports league something!
Micko
Roar Rookie
I need to give the bikes a go. I've kept hearing how good the racing is, but I've never sat down and watched a race. I'll give it a watch sometime.
Im similar with League…struggle with watching much but I do follow the results, tend to read a bit about it and watch some finals….I know you enjoy your Supercars…I love MotoGp but also most motor racing and of course rugby and cricket…