New Zealand players celebrate with the winners trophy after their third ever series win in England. Photo / AP
New Zealand players celebrate with the winners trophy after their third ever series win in England. Photo / AP
Fans must cherish the magnitude of New Zealand's third cricket series victory in England across 18 attempts and 90 years.
Previously only the Jeremy Coney-skippered 1986 side and the Stephen Fleming-led 1999 tourists had tasted triumph across three and four-match schedules respectively.
However, the 2021 squad's feat – guided byKane Williamson in the Lord's stalemate and Tom Latham in the country's first test win in five attempts at Edgbaston – should be celebrated and not overshadowed by the inaugural world championship final against India from Friday at Southampton.
Coney recognised the significance of their inaugural achievement in his autobiography "The Playing Mantis".
"I like to think we had 'the edge'. Something that was there in spite of each of us. If someone left the field it was still there. It's many things. It's our competitiveness; it's our organisation; it's the attitudes; it's the discipline; it's our New Zealandness; it's our pride; it's pleasure in our team, the collective character, our confidence in ourselves and each other. This may seem boastful to some. I don't think of it that way. We were quietly, calmly a better side."
Many of those points would resonate among the incumbents.
Fleming recollected the following in his "Balance Of Power" memoir.
"Afterwards, surrounded by my teammates and with such a dramatic result behind me, I found it all very emotional. It was the culmination of so much hard work and sacrifice. To get the result we'd been hoping for was unbelievable… Guys were in tears and I guess it was probably one of the most moving times of my career."
New Zealand captain Tom Latham, second left, shakes hands with England's Zak Crawley, left, after their win on the fourth day of the second cricket test. Photo / AP
Even the usually phlegmatic Latham, who guided the winning runs to third man off Mark Wood 59 minutes into the fourth day, needed minimal prodding to acknowledge in the accomplishment.
"It was great to have that performance. Through the four days it was outstanding. We had a few [six] changes, but everyone came out and did their roles. It was a complete team performance. It's fantastic for the depth of New Zealand cricket."
New Zealand has now registered six victories from 56 attempts in England. That was also just the third win in 52 matches overseas against either England, Australia, India or South Africa since the 1999 successes of Fleming's team. Triumphs at Hobart in 2011 and Headingley in 2015 were the other exceptions. Away series wins in India and South Africa remain the final frontiers for New Zealand touring sides.
England players walk off the field after their loss on the fourth day of the second cricket test match against New Zealand. Photo / AP
The current torchbearers refuse to relinquish their better-never-stops ethos.
Before the tour, Williamson explained how that worked in terms of inclusivity, a concept which paid dividends with 17 players used for injury-precaution or resting purposes across both fixtures.
"It's more about behaviour than words written on a white board.
"When you remove the self-focussed, self-absorbed stuff, team sport becomes more enjoyable because you put your energy into the people around you."
Hence the seamless transition of the respective Lord's and Edgbaston men-of-the-matches Devon Conway and Matt Henry, as well as timely contributions from the likes of Will Young and Ajaz Patel on the selection periphery.
Team manager Mike Sandle reinforced Williamson's mantra.
"If a guy has scored a hundred or taken a five-wicket bag that's great, but we also acknowledge the guy who may have bowled 10 overs into the wind or who batted in a partnership through tough periods to get his mate there.
"I love entering the changing room after a win and seeing the players in dirty whites with their old black caps on after putting in a hell of an effort. They're buggered, but can look each other in the eye knowing they deserve to enjoy the fruits of their labour."
Last night provided a further opportunity, but no labour in test cricket could potentially be more fruitful than what now confronts them at Southampton in four days.
