New Zealand have won the inaugural World Test Championship by eight wickets after bowling out India for 170 and reaching their victory target on 2-140.
New Zealand have shed their bridesmaid tag by claiming the inaugural World Test Championship (WTC) title with an eight-wicket victory against India in a thrilling final.
Beaten in the finals of the last two 50-overs World Cups, Kane Williamson’s team became Test cricket’s first official world champions after prevailing in a match plagued by bad weather before a superb denouement at the Hampshire Bowl on its reserve day on Wednesday.
“Certainly it’s a very special feeling. After a couple of close ones (in ICC finals), nice to get one under the belt,” Williamson said at the presentation ceremony after the six-day contest.
“I’ve been part of (New Zealand cricket) for a short while, but it’s a very special feeling, the first time in our history we’ve come away with a world title.”
All three results looked possible when India resumed the final day on 2-64 in their second innings with captain Virat Kohli and the dour Cheteshwar Pujara in the middle.
Kyle Jamieson had been the wrecker-in-chief in India’s first innings and the towering seamer returned to haunt them again on the sixth morning.
The 2.03m-tall bowler dismissed Kohli and Pujara in his successive overs but was denied a third wicket when Tim Southee dropped Rishabh Pant at second slip when he was on five.
It threatened to be a costly reprieve as Pant counter-attacked with a typically aggressive knock of 41.
It took an inspired bowling change by Williamson to end the mayhem with Trent Boult (3-39) removing Pant and Ravichandran Ashwin in the same over.
Southee (4-48) polished off the tail as India, who had managed 217 in the first innings, folded for 170 in the second.
Chasing 139 to win from 53 overs, New Zealand did not find it easy as Ashwin dismissed both openers to inject fresh excitement into the contest.
More drama followed as Williamson, who made 52 not out, was adjudged lbw to Ashwin early in his innings. Williamson immediately reviewed the decision and got it overturned.
He got another life when Jasprit Bumrah dropped a skier as New Zealand homed on on victory.
Taylor, whose 47 not out included the winning boundary, was dropped by Pujara in the slips when the batsman was on 26.
The final marked the culmination of a two-year cycle of the WTC, which was launched in 2019 to create Test cricket’s pinnacle.
New Zealand’s victory was also a fitting farewell for their wicketkeeper BJ Watling, who retired after the match.
Indian captain Virat Kohli blamed his team’s batting on the final morning for their defeat.
“The Kiwi bowlers executed their plans to perfection and kept putting us under pressure and did not allow scoring opportunities.
“I think in the end, we were 30-40 runs short of putting them under serious pressure in the last innings.”
Jamieson, who claimed his fifth five-wicket haul in his eighth Test, was adjudged player of the match.
New Zealand took home the ICC Test championship mace and pocketed $US1.6 million ($A2.1 million).
Keith Griffen
Guest
What I’m saying is India have won 3 test series in England, while they have won only 2 in Australia and only 1 in New Zealand
Just Nuisance
Roar Rookie
We are always glad to help out our NZ friends. As long as it's not on the rugby pitch :stoked:
Gee
Roar Rookie
Well done to NZ, they have every aspect of the game covered except spin bowling (and they can cover for that most times). The headline in a bit harsh, nothing shocking about an Indian batting collapse against swing bowlers.
Gee
Roar Rookie
No. India have 3 & Australia have 10+. India are also hopeless in NZ in similar conditions. Kohli & his mates can't handle swing bowling.
Gee
Roar Rookie
NZ will have no problem playing SA, half of their team originally came from there :silly:
Azzabru
Guest
Only due to rain!
Dan Vett
Guest
That’s ridiculous, NZ should have won in Perth, but for a shocking miss by Zimbabwe umpire, NZ outplayed them for 5 days..
DAVEC
Roar Rookie
yes we got flogged by Australia in Australia and beat India 2 nil at home at home. well thought there was an unwritten agreement that the aussies and kiwis supported each other. by the way haws your not so super rugby going
Once Upon a Time on the Roar
Roar Guru
But for rain 2001-02 here would have been won by Australia after two tests.
Peter Farrar
Roar Pro
What a time for New Zealand cricket. Series win over England and now this. They played tight test match cricket, applying themselves under calm leadership all the way through. If they happen to tour Australia in the years ahead, next time they should play a couple of tour matches to settle in and be more prepared for our conditions. I'm sure this must be their best side since the Hadlee and Crowe days.
All good Micko I didnt take it as a crack at me. Its an anomaly and makes for interesting conversations at times. I believe it was designed around an influx of Chinese in the early to mid 80s but didnt get looked apon favorably by the rest of the world at the time.
TimO
Roar Rookie
Conway didn't help NZ make the final. He hadn't played for Black Caps test side until this tour
Micko
Roar Rookie
Yeah I'm not having a crack at you Jacko (or your son), just stating the intention behind the law. It affects New Zealanders less anyhow due to the open border arrangement with NZ, with no pressure on New Zealanders to obtain citizenship as they can live here as long as they want generally.
The Aus government had an influx of "mothers to be" coming here to get citizenship via their child being born here. You cant kick out a Aus citizen so the parents get to stay too. Hawke made that law to stop that. It was changed again after Keeting became PM. My son just happened to be born here at that time and is part of a strange group of people that was born here but didnt become Aus citizens. We had to get him NZ citizenship by decent.
Unders
Roar Pro
Not even that- had they bowled overs quickly enough in Melbourne...
Micko
Roar Rookie
It's to stop foreigners getting access to Australia by intentionally having their children born here as an avenue to gain citizenship/permanent residency etc. Some Sri Lankan family have tried this now, with the couple coming here whilst she was pregnant, and the child being born here, which doesn't have Australian citizenship, and they're refusing to leave despite having refugee applications denied. Jacko might've had his son born here, and then move back to NZ (or move somewhere else) when the child was still an infant, or at least very young, hence the child wouldn't be a genuine product of Australia. Applying as an adult means they can confirm if there's inherent proof that the child has been a product of the country or not. And if the adult is of suitable character (crime, gang involvement etc) to be made a citizen.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Well, 2 years ago I’d say 75% of Roarers weren’t even aware there was a WTC. So it’s really good the concept is now being widely discussed. Now it’s up to the ICC to keep the relevance going and get the concept embedded in the consciousness of the broader community of sports followers.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Severe for the Indians! At least the kiwis get their hands on a prestigious trophy after the world cup super over tie boundary countback farce.
Dwanye
Roar Rookie
Weird laws
Jeff
Roar Rookie
The penalty for dropping a Test in a one Test WTC final series is pretty severe! ????????