New Zealand captain says WTC points hunt made team fight harder for victory
New Zealand’s dramatic victory against Pakistan in Test 1, achieved with fewer than five overs remaining on the final day, had several notable contributions, but the one that will perhaps be remembered the most is Neil Wagner’s effort to throw 49 overs in two innings. despite two broken toes.
New Zealand captain Kane Williamson, who has been in the XI in 47 of Wagner’s 51 tests, said he had never seen a bigger effort with his fast left arm. Wagner got 2 of 50 and 2 of 55 in the game, and had said after matchday three that “unless they take me on a stretcher, I’m going to try to do everything I can.”
Williamson revealed that Wagner had lived up to his words, being as difficult as ever to take the ball from him to finish a spell.
“People talk about the size of your heart in terms of what you do on the cricket field, but having a couple of broken toes and it hurt a lot. I want to be careful here because you will probably listen to this. (laughs) – but I was in a lot of pain, “said Williamson.” He was going and getting injections and numbing his foot. We tried to use it when the injection was working. It was something unique to all of us.
“His appetite and motivation to be there and try to make a difference for the team is huge. I think we haven’t seen anything greater than the effort he put into this test match with a broken pair of fingers. Running, and obviously he had An impact on his ability to operate 100%, but he still came and made the breakthrough as he does with us so often when he is in full force. A very, very special effort from Wags, one that the team appreciated. we needed and he delivered. “
Wagner made perhaps the most crucial breakthrough of the day, when he had Centurion Fawad Alam make a catch behind an attempt to shoot at 102. That breakthrough came shortly after Kyle Jamieson caught Mohammad Rizwan lbw for 60 to end a save worth 165 runs that had spanned more than 63 overs.
“It’s pretty hard to take off when he’s bowling,” Williamson laughed when asked about Wagner getting over so many jumps. “To be honest, I don’t look at the number of overs (he has bowled). He was very fizzy, obviously the shots were working and he was able to run in. He said ‘when I get my shot I’m much better bowling a long period ‘.
“And when you add the carrot of a possible Test victory, and maybe you’ve had a wicket, I know fast bowlers in particular get their second or third wind. He loves it, and he loves to have the ball in the ball. hand and it is very difficult to remove it. “
Pakistan almost saved the day, but they were ultimately eliminated by 271 after hitting for 123.3 overs in their second inning, having entered the final session at 215 of 4 with Alam and Rizwan fluently, and every possible outcome. Williamson said New Zealand had continued to push for terrains because it was worth going for the win even at the cost of a possible loss.
“We were still hoping to get some ground up and then feel like things could happen from there,” he said of the final session. “For us it was trying to win at all costs. Going into the last session, we still had that opportunity, as did Pakistan, and also the opportunity to draw. But in terms of the context of the World Test Championship, losing it in Trying to win. it was still a better bet than anything else, it was nice that we could go out and be on the right side.
“It was an incredible game of cricket. Another incredible one against Pakistan. We are two very, very close teams that have been reaching the limit. It’s great to come out with the result and the excitement of finishing so late in the piece adds to that.”
The second and final Test begins in Christchurch on January 3, and victory there would put New Zealand on a solid footing to finish in the top two of the World Test Championship and contest the final. However, Williamson said the potential incentive was secondary to winning the Test they were participating in.
“It’s about playing good cricket. The things around it and the care and context that comes with the Trial Championship is great,” he said. “It has given everyone something else, an extra touch to try cricket. But that’s at the back of people’s minds, not at the forefront of what we need to control and the effort it takes to try and play our best. cricket against a very strong team in Pakistan. They showed it today and we have seen it on several occasions that they are a fantastic team in all areas. “
Saurabh Somani is assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo
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