icon
CRICKET
Bradman Museum
Jun 01 2021

Qualification for the inaugural World Test Championship Final has been run and won and this series is not part of the ICC’s Future Tour Programme. So, as England and New-Zealand do battle under the watchful eye of Father Time from Wednesday, it will be in a considerable show of goodwill to the extended cricketing community.

After a year ravaged by COVID and a truncated 2020 summer, the ECB is determined to thank their supporter base. A base that extends from cricket fans themselves, to the broadcasters and venues who have been denied a full complement of cricket as the pandemic has run its course. Whilst the West Indies and Pakistan played – albeit in a shortened window last year – the ECB’s primary broadcast drawcard, The Hundred, did not go ahead. As such, the two Test series can be viewed as something of a token of appreciation, and a boost to the cricketing economy that has taken a considerable and unrelenting beating. The series also means the people of Birmingham will have a Test this summer, their Edgbaston ground excluded from the fixture against India.

To that end, considering the fluid and unpredictable nature of COVID, it is prudent to take any opportunity to play cricket when it is safe to do so.

Regardless of the motive or the circumstances surrounding it, a Test series between the second and third ranked teams in the world is a tantalising prospect. Boasting some of the best players in world cricket, some bearing down on personal milestones and others keen to solidify regular places in their nation’s XI, there is myriad to get excited about. And for those a world away, presently locked down in Melbourne, Test cricket is a welcome distraction.

One of England's finest, James Anderson is nearing 1000 first-class wickets

Individually, James Anderson has been the focus of significant attention in the build-up. England’s timeless swing bowler – pending likely selection on Wednesday – will equal Sir Alistair Cook’s record of 161 Tests for his country and play his 24th At Lord’s. How’s that, Father Time? Astounding for a fast bowler, Jimmy has a particular penchant for poles at St John’s Wood. His name on the honour board six times, Anderson has also moved past 100 wickets at the Home of Cricket. Currently sitting on 992 first-class wickets, he will be keen to make his thousandth victim any of the Blackcaps’ top order in the next two weeks.

BJ Watling would be a fine scalp to take Anderson into four-figures. New Zealand’s most successful wicket-keeper – that’s with the gloves and the bat – Watling is one of the most respected characters in the game. We have written on BJ before, but as his career comes to an end (this tour, including the WTC Final will be his last) his New-Zealand teammates will be determined to send him out on a winning note; an effort that will not be reserved solely for India at Southampton. To that end, Watling himself will be keen to replicate his last performance against England in the longest form; his highest score of 205 coming at the end of 2019.

In a broader sense, the series provides a unique opportunity for New-Zealand to acclimatise and prepare before the historic WTC Final later in the month. Organised in January, before they had qualified for the Final, the series could give the Kiwis the edge over their Indian counterparts. Not only will they have recent match fitness, but also the chance to play in English conditions with a Duke ball, which they do not use at home. None will enjoy this more than Kyle Jamieson, whose amusing refusal to bowl to Virat Kohli during their stint together at IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore, is now well known.

"No chance I'm going to bowl at you" - Kyle Jamieson wasn't going to give away any secrets ahead of the WTC Final

Moreover, New-Zealand can – and will – use the series as a chance to iron out any ostensible deficiencies and establish a bona-fide XI that they believe can earn victory against India at the end of the month. Head coach, Gary Stead is pleased with the current state of the squad and suggests that they are in “a luxurious position” heading into the contest against England. Even without Trent Boult, the Kiwis are flush with options; hopefuls Henry, Bracewell and Duffy all a chance to join Southee, Wagner and Jamieson who are all but locked in for a start. Competition for spots is always a good thing, and you can’t help but feel New-Zealand are primed to perform over the next month or so.

For England, they will get a look to the future as they play New-Zealand with a youthful and exciting squad. Many of England’s bigger name players will be absent after signing IPL deals, no objection certificates as well as the ECB’s persistent commitment to rotation to avoid “bubble fatigue.” Consequently, the series will not feature the likes of Buttler, Sam Curran, Ben Stokes nor Chris Woakes. Archer will also miss due to ongoing injury. That said, the series gives some of England’s hitherto ‘second-tier’ the chance to put their name up in lights against one of the best teams in the world. If players like James Bracey, Haseeb Hameed and Dan Lawrence get a chance, look for them to nail down a spot in the England XI. It really could be a chance like no other.

Of course, the action on the field is one thing, but the series is particularly exciting for a nation of die-hard cricket fans who are champing at the bit to get back in the stands. With 25% capacity at Lord’s and up to 18,000 allowed to pack into Edgbaston, the wheel continues to turn back to a sense of normality. Cricket and indeed professional sport more generally continue to play an integral part in the response to and recovery from COVID. So, from polite applause at 10:30am to more raucous and less-inhibited support later in the afternoon, we welcome it all and can’t wait for it to get underway.

To read more from Andrew Young and the Bradman Museum, please follow us on Stump to Stump, our socials listed below, or click HERE

FACEBOOK

TWITTER

INSTAGRAM

LINKEDIN

If you'd like to see more content from Bradman Museum, they'd be very grateful for your support and contribution. Bradman Museum will receive 80% of all funds contributed.
$
Bradman Museum
📆 Est. 1989. 🏏 Australia's largest dedicated cricket museum 🌳 Sir Donald Bradman's home ground in Bowral, NSW

Followers

Following