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Took 39 years for New Zealand to win a series. Even more to be number 1. They’ve been bashed and bullied, got stuck as amateurs and a lack of finances.
This success goes to the modern players, but is built on those like Sutcliffe, Reid and W Hadlee. This is good for cricket.
This success goes to the modern players, but is built on those like Sutcliffe, Reid and W Hadlee. This is good for cricket.
So in 1969 when they won their first series it was against Pakistan in Bangladesh (East Pakistan back then). It could not have been a more remote place to have your first win, and this is what New Zealand administrator Don Neely said of it:
"It's a pity this side hasn't had greater recognition -- perhaps their achievements were overshadowed by other world events in those tumultuous times, which saw men walking on the moon, as well as Vietnam and Woodstock." Still my favourite cricket quote.
Poor ol' NZ cricket, if it wasn't for space travel and Hendrix, they'd have been more respected.
And just for fun, ten years after their first series win they won their second, against the West Indies. Who were at the time the greatest cricket team in the world. It took ten years for the much anticipated follow up album, but it was a banger.
Basically New Zealand cricket went from Ilford 2nd XI to number one Test playing nation. It's quite the trip.
My piece on New Zealand's rise to number one
A historical take on their first 90 years in Tests.
https://wickets.substack.com/p/the-kids-from-the-concrete-nets-get
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A historical take on their first 90 years in Tests.
https://wickets.substack.com/p/the-kids-from-the-concrete-nets-get
Subscribe on the page
