Page 18 - New Zealand Cricket Team

Kane Williamson declines New Zealand 'forced' Neil Wagner to retire

Kane Williamson on Wednesday rubbished the suggestion made by former batter Ross Taylor that ace New Zealand pacer Neil Wagner was "forced to retire" before the start of the two-Test series at home against Australia. Wagner made an emotional announcement of his international retirement on the eve of the first Test at Wellington after he was told by the selectors that he would not be considered in the playing XI at any stage in the Test series. The 37-year-old Wagner, however, took the field as a substitute fielder in the first Test which the Kiwis lost by 172 runs. He also carried drinks on a few occasions. Addressing a media conference alongside incumbent captain Tim Southee, since the pair will be appearing in their 100th Test together, Williamson said he has not seen the comments made by Taylor. "I don't think anybody is forced to retire. Last week, (Wagner) had a fantastic week reflecting on what was an incredible career, and we had some amazing moments in the dressing room and

NZ vs AUS 2nd Test: Neil Wagner's retirement was forced reckons Ross Taylor

New Zealand's former star batter Ross Taylor has suggested that fast bowler Neil Wagner's retirement was "forced", hinting at the possibility of unrest in the Kiwi camp. Told that he would not be picked in the XI in the series against Australia, Wagner recently announced his retirement during an emotional press conference before the start of the first Test. The 37-year-old Wagner, however, did take the field during the first Test as a substitute fielder and carried the drinks on occasions. "I think it all makes sense a little bit now. There's no sugarcoating it. I think it's a forced retirement. If you listen to Wagner's press conference, he was retiring, but it was after this last Test match. So he did make himself available," Taylor said while speaking on ESPN's Around the Wicket podcast. "And to see that he isn't selected I think I do like and you do need to plan for the future, but a one-off Test against Australia in a must-win situation, I wouldn't be looking much further tha

NZC security team arrives in Pakistan for reconnaissance ahead of Pak tour

A security delegation of New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has reached Pakistan to carry out a reconnaissance of the arrangements for the Kiwi side's tour in April to play a T20 series. The delegation, which includes two members of the NZC and an independent security expert, arrived in Pakistan at the weekend to visit Lahore, Rawalpindi and Islamabad. The five matches of the New Zealand are scheduled to be played at Lahore and Pindi in mid-April. "The security delegation will visit the match venues, hotels where teams will stay and also get briefings from government and security officials on the security plan for the visitors," a source in the Pakistan Cricket Board said. The delegation also includes the CEO of the New Zealand Players Association. The New Zealand team had returned home in September, 2021 without playing a match of its white-ball series in Pakistan after their government ordered them to come back after getting knowledge about a credible threat against the squad. New Zeala

New Zealand loses O'Rourke for 2nd Test vs Australia, Sears is called up

New Zealand fast bowler Will O'Rourke has been ruled out of the second cricket Test against Australia with a hamstring strain. Ben Sears, who has played 13 Twenty20 Internationals for New Zealand but is uncapped in Tests, has been called into the squad and is likely to play in the match which starts Friday at Hagley Oval in Christchurch. In other injury news, opener Devon Conway will undergo surgery after damaging his left thumb during the T20 series against Australia, which will lengthen his absence from the New Zealand team to at least eight weeks. New Zealand coach Gary Stead said O'Rourke will be out for up to four weeks and said Sears had impressed. "Ben's a young bowler with a quality skill set," Stead said. "He bowls with genuine pace and gets good bounce which is always a great asset in red ball cricket. "We've been really impressed by his performances for the Black Caps in white ball cricket this summer and believe he can make the step up to the test arena if called ...

AUS vs NZ 1st Test: Australia 13-2, New Zealand strikes back late on Day 2

The almost comical run out of Kane Williamson for a second-ball duck was one of many setbacks suffered by New Zealand on the second day of the first test Friday as it fell 217 runs behind Australia. That was until the very end of the day when Australia batted for a second time after passing up the chance to make New Zealand follow on. Tim Southee dismissed Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne to have Australia 13-2 in its second innings after it had led by 204 on the first. At stumps Usman Khawaja was 5 not out and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon was 6 not out. Lyon was dropped at slip by Tim Southee off the last ball of the day. Smith was out for a duck to the third ball of the innings, bowled by Southee, and Labuschagne fell to Southee in the fifth over for 2. After falling for 1 in the first innings, it was Labuschagne's lowest aggregate score in a test in his career. They were the 12th and 13th wickets to fall in the day which mostly had not gone New Zealand's way. First, New Zealand .

1st Test: NZ vs AUS Playing 11 - Ravindra in for Kiwis; Aussies unchanged

Devon Conway has been ruled out but Rachin Ravindra has been cleared to play for New Zealand in the first cricket test against Australia starting at the Basin Reserve on Thursday. Conway suffered a thumb injury while keeping wicket in the second Twenty20 international between the teams on Friday last week. While initial scans suggested there was no fracture, additional tests in Wellington in recent days have found there is damage to Conway's left thumb. Conway will have further tests later in the week. Meantime, Will Young open the batting with Tom Latham in Conway's place. Henry Nicholls, who was dropped from the New Zealand team ahead of its two recent tests against South Africa both victories has been recalled to provide reinforcement for the batting lineup. It's disappointing for Devon to be ruled out on the eve of an important match, New Zealand coach Gary Stead said. He's a class player batting at the top of the order for us and I know he was really looking forward to this

New Zealand pacer Neil Wagner announces retirement from Tests; key stats

Wagner hung up his boots after 64 Tests for New Zealand, an adopted country as he moved from South Africa. In his stellar Test career, Wagner took 260 wkts at an average of 27.57 & strike rate of 52.7

WTC 2023-25 points table: Check India rankings after IND vs ENG 4th Test

The percentage of points (POP) for team India sits at 64.58 which is nearly 11 behind league leader New Zealand, who have a POP of 75 with three wins in four games

T20 World Cup 2024: Pakistan set to host NZ in April as preparation for WC

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is set to host a five-match T20 international series against New Zealand in April this year. A PCB official confirmed that talks were underway with New Zealand Cricket (NZC) to finalise the dates and venues for the rubber but the window would be from April 13 to 24. The official said that the series, being held in preparation for the T20 World Cup this year, would be probably staged in Lahore and Rawalpindi as Karachi would be hosting a series between the Pakistan and West Indies women's teams around the same time. Pakistan last month played a five-match T20 series, which New Zealand won 4-1. The Pakistan team, after the Pakistan Super League, will be involved in a series of T20 matches against Afghanistan, New Zealand and England ahead of the World Cup in June in the USA and the West Indies. Pakistan in the last two years has been able to host a number of international teams, including top ranked sides like Australia, England and New Zealand.

Marsh helps Australia snatch last-ball win over New Zealand in 1st T20

Tim David hit a four from the last ball of the match to give Australia a six-wicket win over New Zealand on Wednesday in the first Twenty20 international. New Zealand made 215 for three batting first in an innings which included 13 sixes and 10 fours. Captain Mitch Marsh piloted Australia's innings with an unbeaten 72 from 44 balls and was man of the match for his role in Australia's third-highest successful run chase. But, David took over at the end, hitting two sixes and a four from the last three balls of the 19th over to leave Australia needing 16 runs from the last six balls. Veteran seamer Tim Southee was given the responsibility of bowling the last over for New Zealand as the highest wicket-taker in T20 cricket. His first two balls were wides, then there was a leg bye and Australia needed 12 from three balls. David came close to settling the issue when he just caught up with a ball from Southee heading down the leg and hit a remarkable six behind square. That left Australia

2nd Test: Williamson slams 32nd ton; NZ beat South Africa by 7 wkts

Kane Williamson made 133 in an unbroken partnership of 152 with Will Young to lead New Zealand to a seven-wicket win over South Africa on the fourth day of the second test Friday and to its first-ever series win over the Proteas. Williamson scored centuries in both innings of the first test which New Zealand won by 281 runs. South Africa took a 31-run first innings lead in the second test and extended that to 267 when it made 235 in its second innings. New Zealand reached 40-1 before stumps on day three, setting up a fourth day on which it needed a further 227 while South Africa needed nine wickets to win the match and save the series. New Zealand's total of 269-3 was its fifth-highest in a successful fourth-innings run chase. The South Africa team is considerably under-strength as most of its leading players remained at home to play in a domestic Twenty20 league. Six Proteas players including captain Neil Brand made their debuts in the first test and the second test lineup had on

NZ vs SA 2nd Test: Chasing 267, New Zealand 40-1 at stumps on Day 3

David Bedingham made a maiden century Thursday to bat an under-rated South Africa lineup to a 266-run lead over New Zealand on the third day of the second cricket test. New Zealand lost Devon Conway with one ball left in the day's play and was 40-1 at stumps, still 226 behind with two full days remaining. Conway fell lbw to off-spinner Dane Piedt on the fifth ball of the 14th over, only seconds before the scheduled end. Tom Latham was 21 not out. While Bedingham was at the crease on the way to a career-best 110 and during a 98-run partnership with Keegan Peterson (43), a Proteas team which had been written off before its tour began was in control of the match, setting a difficult chase for New Zealand. South Africa is without most of its leading players who stayed at home to play in a domestic Twenty20 league. After losing the first of two tests by 281 runs, it looked in danger of becoming the first Proteas team to lose a test series against New Zealand. Bedingham has given South .

South Africa bowls out New Zealand for 211, leads by 31 in 2nd cricket test

Dane Piedt took a career-best 5-89 as South Africa bowled out New Zealand for 211 to take an unexpected first-innings lead Wednesday on the second day of the second cricket test. South Africa was bowled out for 242 after resuming Day 2 at 220-6 and New Zealand conceded a 31 run lead as bowlers dominated and 14 wickets fell in the day. New Zealand had been 183-9 and the deficit might have been greater but for a late innings of 33 by the redoubtable Neil Wagner. Piedt reached the high point of a checkered test career as he captured the wickets of Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Will Young and Glenn Phillips to highlight an excellent bowling performance by the Proteas. Dane Paterson took the wicket of Devon Conway (0) in the first over of the New Zealand innings and finished with 3-39. My test career has been ups and downs with injuries and I'm seriously proud of the way we fought today, Piedt said. We had a nice talk out in the middle, reflecting on the first test (which New Zealand won

NZ vs SA Tests: Rachin Ravindra shines as Kiwis beat Proteas by 281 runs

New Zealand beat an under-strength South Africa lineup by 281 runs on the fourth day of the first cricket test Wednesday to take an early lead in the two-match series. Captain Tim Southee declared New Zealand's second innings overnight at 179-4, with an overall lead of 528. New Zealand bowled out South Africa in the fourth innings for 247. New Zealand posted 511 batting first and dismissed South Africa for 162 for a 349-run first innings lead. Southee chose not to enforce the follow-on and Kane Williamson completed his second century of the match, the 31st of his career, before the declaration. I think it was pretty good on a good (pitch) for the batters to set it up and the bowlers to take 20 wickets, Southee said. We knew the South Africa side would be a strong one. You look at them in all sports, they compete, they're a very proud nation so we knew they were going to come out and fight. South Africa was in trouble early Wednesday, losing the wickets of openers Neil Brand and Edw

Finn Allen slams record-equaling 16 sixes; NZ beat PAK in 3rd T20

Finn Allen blasted a world-record-equaling 16 sixes in an innings of 137 from 62 balls as New Zealand beat Pakistan by 45 runs in the third Twenty20 international Wednesday to take a winning 3-0 lead in the five-match series. Allen equaled the world record set by Hazratullah Zazai of Afghanistan of 16 sixes in a T20 international innings and posted the highest score by a New Zealander in T20 internationals, beating Brendon McCullum's 123 against Bangladesh in 2012. New Zealand made 224-7 after being sent in by Pakistan for third time in the series. Pakistan again fell short in the run chase as it did when it chased 227 in the first match of the series, losing by 46 runs and 195 in the second match, losing by 21. On Wednesday Pakistan was held to 179-7. The only bright point was Babar Azam's third consecutive half century of the series, his sixth in succession batting at No. 6 in T20 internationals. Babar was out for 58 in the 16th over when the chase already was beyond ...

NZ vs PAK: Abbas Afridi to miss third T20I, Kane Williamson ruled out

Young Pakistan fast bowler Abbas Afridi was on Tuesday ruled out of the third T20I while hosts New Zealand lost the services of their captain Kane Williamson for the remainder of the five-match series. The Pakistan team management confirmed in a statement that a low grade abdominal muscle strain to Afridi will keep him out of the third T20I, with a decision on his availability for the remaining two matches to be taken later. His scan has shown no sign of significant injury, and he will be managed symptomatically. His availability for the last two games will be made at a later stage, the management statement said. The 22-year-old right-arm pacer Afridi made his international debut for Pakistan in this series. Pakistan are already without fast bowler Khurram Shahzad, who played in their opening Test against Australia last month, as well as spinners Abrar Ahmed and Noman Ali owing to injuries. The spin duo did not feature in any of their three Tests in Australia. Williamson suffered

New Zealand beats Pakistan by 21 runs in 2nd T20, leads 5-match series 2-0

New Zealand overcame the loss of its captain in an innings that faltered late to beat Pakistan by 21 runs in the second Twenty20 International Sunday, taking a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. The Black Caps failed to build on the foundation of the first half of its innings, making 194 for eight batting first after being 111 for one at the end of 10 overs. The batting slump followed captain Kane Williamson retiring hurt after 10 overs with a tight hamstring. Pakistan also stumbled in the second half of its innings and was bowled out for 173 in the 20th over. Williamson is making a managed return from a serious knee injury and New Zealand would fear any setback to his rehabilitation. But, while he didn't field, Williamson was still padded up and apparently prepared to bat at the end of the New Zealand innings. Finn Allen's 74 from 41 balls set a cracking pace early on in the New Zealand innings. Allen put on 59 in 5.1 overs with Devon Conway (20) for the first wicket and 52 in 4.9

Adams named New Zealand bowling coach for Pakistan series

Former New Zealand international Andre Adams will join the Blackcaps support staff for the home T20I series against Pakistan beginning January 12. Adams will work as bowling coach for the five-match series as part of head coach Gary Stead's coaching group, which also features regular batting coach Luke Ronchi. The decision follows Adams' work as pace-bowling coach for the New Zealand women's team during the side's 2023 tour to South Africa. New Zealand Strength and Conditioning coach Chris Donaldson and Team Performance Manager Simon Insley will both take a break during the series against Pakistan with their roles being filled by Matt Long and Dave Meiring respectively.

Pakistan likely to go in with new opening pairing in T20s vs New Zealand

Pakistan are expected to go for a new opening pair in the T20 series in New Zealand with Muhammad Rizwan to partner young Saim Ayub instead of Babar Azam. According to reports from Auckland, the team management had Rizwan and Saim batting in the nets against the new ball bowlers while Babar and Fakhar Zaman had their knocks against mainly spinners in the other nets. Babar and Rizwan have opened pretty successfully for Pakistan in the T20 format since 2021 but apparently new captain Shaheen Shah Afridi, new high performance coach Yasir Arafat and the team director Muhammad Hafeez are keen to try out something new against New Zealand in the five-match series beginning on January 12. Their 150 plus runs unbeaten partnership helped Pakistan beat India for the first time in any World Cup game during the T20 WC in Dubai in 2021. The 21-year Saim, who played 8 T20 internationals last year and made his Test debut in Sydney earlier this month, is known for his hard hitting style of batting

Why South Africa named uncapped Neil Brand as captain for New Zealand tour?

The SA 20 will start on January 10 while South Africa's tour of New Zeeland will begin on January 19 with the first Test in Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui