New Zealand head coach Gary Stead has expressed frustration after the team’s one-off Test against Afghanistan was called off without a ball being bowled. The match, which was scheduled to take place in Greater Noida, India, was intended to serve as crucial preparation for New Zealand’s upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka and India. However, persistent rain and unplayable outfield conditions denied both teams the opportunity to compete.
The abandoned match, the first-ever Test between New Zealand and Afghanistan, was not part of the World Test Championship (WTC) but was viewed by the Black Caps as vital preparation after a six-month gap in Test cricket.
Disappointment Over Missed Match Practice
Speaking after the match was abandoned, Stead said the players were “very disappointed” to have lost the chance to familiarize themselves with subcontinent conditions ahead of their Sri Lanka and India series.
“The most disappointing part for us is that we lost the opportunity to be match-hardened and match-ready when we go into our Test match [against Sri Lanka] next week,” Stead said during a press conference. “The guys are really disappointed. It was an opportunity to play Afghanistan. It doesn’t come around that often.”
Stead emphasized that the match would have been valuable for New Zealand in terms of adapting to Afghanistan‘s unique style of play and facing their unorthodox bowlers, stating, “They have some unique bowlers – it’s always good to get your head around how you face them. The way they play is a little bit different to other countries.”
Outfield Issues Lead to Abandonment
Although the rain had stopped by the second day, the outfield remained too soft for play, and the umpires deemed it unfit for action. Stead expressed his frustration at the conditions, noting that while the ground looked promising, the weather had taken its toll.
“Even though it was fine for those two days, there were thunderstorms the nights before and the ground was just too soft, and the umpires deemed that unfit to play on,” Stead explained. “It was out of the players’ hands. But we were frustrated. We came here to play cricket and play a Test match.”
Looking Ahead to Sri Lanka and India
Despite the setback, New Zealand remains focused on their upcoming Test series in Sri Lanka and India, two challenging opponents in subcontinent conditions. Stead noted that the team is eager to perform well in Asia, with five of their remaining eight WTC Tests to be played on the continent.
“The World Test Championship is alive and well, and we’re currently in third place, and we want to make the finals again,” Stead said. “We’ve been there once in the past, and we are desperate to get there again. So every Test match we play will be an important one.”
Stead acknowledged that adapting to conditions in Sri Lanka and India will be key to their success, noting the differences in pitches across the region. “The conditions that we face in Galle [Sri Lanka] will be different to Bangalore, Pune, and Mumbai when we come back here again. So it’s still about adapting to the different surfaces.”
Afghanistan’s Rise in World Cricket
While the focus was on the disappointment of the canceled Test, Stead also praised Afghanistan’s rise in world cricket, particularly in white-ball formats. He mentioned their recent achievements, including a victory against New Zealand in the group stage of the 2024 T20 World Cup.
“It was our first Test match against Afghanistan, and we were really excited about that,” Stead said. “They’ve been great competitors of ours over the last few World Cups. Afghanistan have knocked just about every top team in the world over now. They’re certainly a force and becoming more and more of a force in world cricket.”
A Missed Opportunity
For New Zealand, the abandoned Test marked a missed opportunity to fine-tune their preparations ahead of the crucial WTC matches. However, the team remains optimistic about the challenges ahead, with a renewed focus on their series against Sri Lanka, which begins next week, followed by their highly anticipated clashes with India later this year.
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