An international debut of a different kind
Every debut is a story worth telling. Here’s the story of my international debut, not as a player in the international arena, but as a writer, and a podcaster. We’ve been podcasting for a wee while now; here’s the story of my debut as an official member of the cricket media community.
The first T20 between New Zealand and the West Indies at Eden Park. It won't surprise anyone who has watched cricket at Eden Park that it's small straight. Smaller every time I go back there. Sitting in the first row of the stand before the match, I felt like a very tall deep mid-off. On most other international grounds I'd have been on the ground. Even in the press room (more on that later), I felt like I could have been in the game at any point.
Batting first at Eden Park, the par score is 200, so bowling attack choices prove crucial. It almost benefits a bowler to try to get hit square, so bowling short into the wicket is key. The West Indies rely heavily on their big three of Hetmeyer, Pooran and Pollard. I was excited to see the partnership of Cottrell and Oshane Thomas from close quarters (really close quarters). Watching them pacing out their runs, not with a tape measure, good old fashioned 19 big steps, paint the line here, please, Mr. Groundsman. Thank you sir.
The West Indies looked a tight unit warming up, as well you'd expect having spent so much time in quarantine together in 2020. What an emotional toll this must take on the players, going from bubble to bubble, in and out of quarantine. All for 6 days of cricket in the white ball format. You have to make it count. There was another touching moment when both New Zealand and the West Indies combined under the ‘Give Nothing to Racism’ banner, before taking a knee. A timely reminder that society still has a long way to go to recognise and rectify centuries of discrimination. If 2020 has given us anything, let it be that we begin to recognise and redress the wrongs of our past.
What impact would crowds have, now that they are allowed back in stadia in New Zealand over the course of the summer? It was a scant crowd 45 minutes before the first ball, and the walk-up crowd failed to materialise on a night where weather surely changed the minds of a few casual fans. Surely the players will have got some lift from having crowd noise back that doesn't filter through the ground speakers, and some semblance of atmosphere. How different it is now in 2020, compared to this time last year with a full stadium and a rampant touring Indian white-ball side. Still, having spectators will be a nice change for both sides. For all the West Indies have sacrificed to bring cricket to the world this year, they deserve all the support a crowd can give them.
Every Black Caps supporter in the land has their eye on one player - Devon Conway. Hailing from South Africa, he's had to wait 3 years for this opportunity. Receiving his cap from Hamish Bennett, it looked at home on his head. Kyle Jamieson likewise, although Kyle has more than a foot on Devon. If it rains, Kyle knows a full 2 minutes before anyone else.
Finally, under heavy skies, play is underway, for the briefest of moments. And then, rain. Always rain in New Zealand. If ever you want to guarantee the heavens would open, host international cricket. As always in New Zealand, it’s only ever temporary, just ask the Finn brothers. A bump ball catch ends the first over, to the delight of the meagre crowd. You don’t get that with piped in crowd noise!
More rain! And clearly the groundsmen have been isolating, or haven’t had their usual pre-season rehearsals. A failure to lock down the all-important corner of the main cover has let wind get under it - and from there physics and aerodynamics take over and blow the covers off the square completely, knocking over the poor third umpire, smashing his umbrella. The umbrella is a write-off, but only pride damaged for the groundstaff.
There are some players that are special to watch. A privilege among privileges. Keiron Pollard is one of them. In the space of four balls, Pollard hits 3 sixes and a four. One, a top edge, strikes the roof of the stadium. The fourth, travels like a tracer bullet. On a larger ground deep mid off fears for his own safety. Here, it’s fans ducking for cover as the West Indian maestro takes full advantage of NZ having to use their 5th and 6th bowling options to get their allotted overs in.
In the wash-up, New Zealand were pretty comfortable victors thanks to an assured batting performance from Devon Conway, who looks even more at home at the crease than his cap looked on his head in the warmups. Lockie Ferguson too looks primed for a big summer, and reinforces the old adage that cricket is a different game when played above 145kph [edit: just before publishing, Lockie is confirmed as out for at least 6 weeks with a back injury].
For me, well it was a privilege to be amongst the privileged - those that are afforded the opportunity to think and write about the game. It’s an honour I don’t take lightly, even if my meagre keyboard and wordsmithery skills pale in comparison to the media juggernauts of our game. Still, everyone has to make their debut, and now I’ve made mine.
To my Top Order colleagues, thank you for taking me on this journey. To those in New Zealand cricket that recognised and rewarded our hard work with an opportunity to cover the game in this country (for this summer at least) we thank you too. And to you for listening, and reading this. My humblest thanks.
Until next time, when Pakistan visit the world’s oddest international cricket venue.
Baldy.