One of England’s wettest Mays on record is hampering the Black Caps’ preparation ahead of their first test at Lord’s next week.
But while Black Caps coach Gary Stead admits he’s frustrated with the “horrendous” weather, he is also confident the New Zealand side will be primed and ready come the first ball against the hosts next Wednesday, in a two-match series which then leads into the World Test Championship final against India, starting June 18.
Since arriving last week at their quarantine base at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton – the venue for the WTC decider – and completing their three days of isolation, the Black Caps haven’t yet been able to properly train outdoors, thanks to some rough early-summer conditions.
Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor collide as the Black Caps were once again forced to train indoors in Southampton.
So rainy, in fact, it has been, that up to Sunday (NZ time), the Met Office reported that the UK was already at their 10th wettest May since their records began in 1862.
That has already thrown the Black Caps’ preparations out of kilter, with a scheduled three-day intra-squad match slated to start on Wednesday now shortened to a two-day fixture to begin Thursday.
Stead said that decision was made in order to try and get the players two training days on grass beforehand, amid what is a brightening forecast, albeit with temperatures more in line with current New Zealand ones.
“I guess when you come to an English summer you still expect to get outside occasionally,” Stead quipped on a Zoom call with New Zealand media on Tuesday.
“It’s been a little bit frustrating, because you come over and guys just want to get a feel for the different conditions here.
“We’ve been lucky with the buildup we had in New Zealand. We trained on grass wickets, we had two camps as well. So it’s not like we’re miles behind or anything like that.
“It’s just a little bit different when you’ve got a bigger squad and stuff as well, with 20-odd players here, to manage their expectations when you’re indoors is a little bit more difficult.
“But something that I guess we try and pride ourselves on is our ability to just roll with the punches and keep adapting to what’s in front of us.”
What has also now altered is the earlier than expected reintegration of captain Kane Williamson, Kyle Jamieson and Mitchell Santner, along with trainer Chris Donaldson and physio Tommy Simsek – a group dubbed ‘The Maldives Five’ by Santner, following their stay in the South Asian country en route from the IPL.
With a 10-day isolation period, Stead had initially been under the impression that quintet wouldn’t be able to link up with the rest of the squad until late in the week, but he confirmed they had now met the requirements of the UK government and the ECB (England and Wales Cricket Board) so were able to take part in Monday’s (local time) training, which had them all excited.
“It’s been an interesting few weeks, to say the least, but nice to get out and train and be back around the lads, it’s good stuff,” Santner said.
“It’s pretty slow times in your room, but it’s got to be done and we’ve made it here safely, and I guess that’s all that matters.”
The arrival of those players will now see a ‘Latham XI’ take on a ‘Williamson XI’, instead of a ‘Southee XI’, in the practice game, with Stead confirming the squad would be split up and three Hampshire 2nd XI reps would make up the numbers. Making the most of any outdoor time, players will also train in the nets while the match is on.
Meanwhile, Stead indicated bowling spearhead Trent Boult was on track to feature in the second test against England at Edgbaston, starting June 10, following his brief stint at home after the IPL.
“Trent’s looking to leave New Zealand on the third of June, which is the second day of the test match at Lord’s. So he will come into London and join up with the team somewhere around the time that we’re heading up to Birmingham.”
https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/crick...red-by-one-of-englands-wettest-mays-on-record
.png "Apology :apology")
