*Official* World Test Championship Final 2021

[Burgey]

Brain genius Tim Paine said India would easily win if they played anywhere near their best.

Well he's probably right tbh. But NZ didn't let them.

 

[Burgey]

For reading 1000 cricinfo articles about how we punch above our weight

But you do! Embrace it.

 

[Daemon]

To be fair, I don't think any of the doubters - of which I very much include myself - had a problem with the idea that the final itself would be a great game of cricket. The problem was the qualifying process.

But the final being this good not only makes the painful/dodgy qualifying process worth it, it also creates a buzz around the fixtures at the back end of the cycle when the points table is crystalizing.

Like imagine if in the next cycle the finalists hinge on say England beating Bangladesh away from home in a 2 test series, and they end up drawing or something.

There'll be that bit of extra hype for matches that not many normally care about.

People didn't see that and just kept complaining about how it was all unjust that NZ only plays 2 test series and England play 5 or whatever.

 

[Kirkut]

Now come on South Africa, you better win the next ICC tournament.

 

[Kirkut]

Well he's probably right tbh. But NZ didn't let them.

Not an excuse, but we went in with no preparation, not even a practice game.

Besides, our batting has been exposed now. You cannot expect Pant to pull off heroics all the time.

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

Outstanding work by the coaching and the management staff. They have been working their butt off for quite some time now. They need break more than the players.

Looking back how good planning that was to rest up Kyle, Southee, Kane, BJ etc from the 2nd test vs England? I know how much work these guys put in during the winter when players are cooling their feet. Our younger players will look up to this result and look to emulate the current ones. The juggernaut will continue for quite some time now. Already hearing from the next bunch of lads how much they would want something similar.

Next stop T20 WC and then the one day WC. Savor the moment, chill for a bit but then the management staff will have to get on with future planning in no time. The real architects behind the turn around.

World cups whatever format triggers off a massive motivation among the now amateur and toddler cricketers. This was super important to keep that fire burning. We owe much to this team and the management staff. At least the next 5-10 years we will continue to be a force.

Sure I mean this is great for NZ and great for Test cricket. But is a long 5 day game really going to attract another generation of insta-now youngsters? Does anyone who hasn't been a hard core fan for many years really care? Long live Test cricket but this might just be the last hurrah before mediocrity and indifference sets in. Look how bad every team who isn't NZ or India already are.

 

[RossTaylorsBox]

One of the angles made it look like a 60 year old Indian woman sitting by herself. I chose that to be the canon answer. ****ing grandma.

That bhabhi just got called out.

 

[harsh.ag]

Wish I hadn't gone off for dinner last night and let food coma set in after. NZ have such a good mix of players, playing with a rare mix of attrition and class. The temperament on display by them has been of the highest class.

Difficult to add to the Jamieson brigade and am glad we found the Simpson guy to heap memes upon him.

Wagnerball was already legendary but yesterday renders it a place in the pantheon of forget-me-nots. Wagner is a genius at reading the game in his own way.

Williamson doing well the icing on the cake. We never get to watch enough of him and I hope he plays with a bit more authority in times to come.

Goodbye Watling. You will be missed by anyone who understands cricket.

Hope to see you beat the living daylights out of Australia soon, ye filthies.

 

[Athlai]

Haha how'd you find it

 

[_Ed_]

Hope to see you beat the living daylights out of Australia soon, ye filthies.

This is one thing I've given up on hoping for.

 

[nzfan]

Sure I mean this is great for NZ and great for Test cricket. But is a long 5 day game really going to attract another generation of insta-now youngsters? Does anyone who hasn't been a hard core fan for many years really care? Long live Test cricket but this might just be the last hurrah before mediocrity and indifference sets in. Look how bad every team who isn't NZ or India already are.

It may not attract massive followers to test cricket but the kids that are already playing cricket will now know they have a shot at world cup even if they are not in the slam bang mold. Not every cricketer's cup of tea the white ball cricket just like not every player can excel in test cricket. Trust me there will be enough young cricketers want to do well at test cricket as long as the WTC stays. Bilateral is the blood line of test cricket but the importance and context may be lost at times.

 

[Flem274*]

This is one thing I've given up on hoping for.

If #1 is Everest, Australia is K2.

 

[srbhkshk]

Congratulations to NZ, it was close at times but a comprehensive win in the end. It's pretty clear that they are a lot better team than India when the bowl swings.

 

[KungFu_Kallis]

After 5 rounds:

View attachment 28327

Really feeling for Slinky Santner today tho. The bloke played almost every Test till this one. Guess he is just not one of the cool kids.

 

[Kirkut]

This is one thing I've given up on hoping for.

Beating Australia should be sweeter than winning the final.

 

[trundler]

Guess he is just not one of the cool kids.

Or a useful cricketer

 

[nzfan]

What next for us in test cricket?

I guess the immediate next assignment is 2 tests in India. Hope India changes it to 3. Ross Taylor should not retire yet and should play those two test matches in India. If we can win the test series in India it would rank higher than getting to WTC finals and beating India in England surely.

Don't want to talk about the elephant in the room, the aussies :-)

 

[trundler]

Don't want to talk about the elephant in the room, the aussies :-)

No he's on your team

 

[TheJediBrah]

But the final being this good not only makes the painful/dodgy qualifying process worth it, it also creates a buzz around the fixtures at the back end of the cycle when the points table is crystalizing.

Like imagine if in the next cycle the finalists hinge on say England beating Bangladesh away from home in a 2 test series, and they end up drawing or something.

There'll be that bit of extra hype for matches that not many normally care about.

People didn't see that and just kept complaining about how it was all unjust that NZ only plays 2 test series and England play 5 or whatever.

We definitely got away with the dodgy qualifying with the 2 best teams playing. It would have been **** if Australia somehow snuck through after skipping tours and barely winning anything.

Not an excuse, but we went in with no preparation, not even a practice game.

Besides, our batting has been exposed now. You cannot expect Pant to pull off heroics all the time.

Nah it's a very fair excuse. NZ had way more time to adapt and even played 2 whole Test matches leading up to it. India came out of quarantine with no match practice. It definitely could have made a difference.

 

[Immenso]

Time flies. I don't think you could've scripted it better.

Awwwww, look at how small the sponsor's logo is. Good times.