NZ Herald
  • Home
  • Latest news
  • Herald NOW
  • Video
  • New Zealand
  • Sport
  • World
  • Business
  • Entertainment
  • Podcasts
  • Quizzes
  • Opinion
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Viva
  • Weather

Subscriptions

  • Herald Premium
  • Viva Premium
  • The Listener
  • BusinessDesk

Sections

  • Latest news
  • New Zealand
    • All New Zealand
    • Crime
    • Politics
    • Education
    • Open Justice
    • Scam Update
  • Herald NOW
  • On The Up
  • World
    • All World
    • Australia
    • Asia
    • UK
    • United States
    • Middle East
    • Europe
    • Pacific
  • Business
    • All Business
    • MarketsSharesCurrencyCommoditiesStock TakesCrypto
    • Markets with Madison
    • Media Insider
    • Business analysis
    • Personal financeKiwiSaverInterest ratesTaxInvestment
    • EconomyInflationGDPOfficial cash rateEmployment
    • Small business
    • Business reportsMood of the BoardroomProject AucklandSustainable business and financeCapital markets reportAgribusiness reportInfrastructure reportDynamic business
    • Deloitte Top 200 Awards
    • CompaniesAged CareAgribusinessAirlinesBanking and financeConstructionEnergyFreight and logisticsHealthcareManufacturingMedia and MarketingRetailTelecommunicationsTourism
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Editorials
    • Business analysis
    • Premium opinion
    • Letters to the editor
  • Politics
  • Sport
    • All Sport
    • OlympicsParalympics
    • RugbySuper RugbyNPCAll BlacksBlack FernsRugby sevensSchool rugby
    • CricketBlack CapsWhite Ferns
    • Racing
    • NetballSilver Ferns
    • LeagueWarriorsNRL
    • FootballWellington PhoenixAuckland FCAll WhitesFootball FernsEnglish Premier League
    • GolfNZ Open
    • MotorsportFormula 1
    • Boxing
    • UFC
    • BasketballNBABreakersTall BlacksTall Ferns
    • Tennis
    • Cycling
    • Athletics
    • SailingAmerica's CupSailGP
    • Rowing
  • Lifestyle
    • All Lifestyle
    • Viva - Food, fashion & beauty
    • Society Insider
    • Royals
    • Sex & relationships
    • Food & drinkRecipesRecipe collectionsRestaurant reviewsRestaurant bookings
    • Health & wellbeing
    • Fashion & beauty
    • Pets & animals
    • The Selection - Shop the trendsShop fashionShop beautyShop entertainmentShop giftsShop home & living
    • Milford's Investing Place
  • Entertainment
    • All Entertainment
    • TV
    • MoviesMovie reviews
    • MusicMusic reviews
    • BooksBook reviews
    • Culture
    • ReviewsBook reviewsMovie reviewsMusic reviewsRestaurant reviews
  • Travel
    • All Travel
    • News
    • New ZealandNorthlandAucklandWellingtonCanterburyOtago / QueenstownNelson-TasmanBest NZ beaches
    • International travelAustraliaPacific IslandsEuropeUKUSAAfricaAsia
    • Rail holidays
    • Cruise holidays
    • Ski holidays
    • Luxury travel
    • Adventure travel
  • Kāhu Māori news
  • Environment
    • All Environment
    • Our Green Future
  • Talanoa Pacific news
  • Property
    • All Property
    • Property Insider
    • Interest rates tracker
    • Residential property listings
    • Commercial property listings
  • Health
  • Technology
    • All Technology
    • AI
    • Social media
  • Rural
    • All Rural
    • Dairy farming
    • Sheep & beef farming
    • Horticulture
    • Animal health
    • Rural business
    • Rural life
    • Rural technology
    • Opinion
    • Audio & podcasts
  • Weather forecasts
    • All Weather forecasts
    • Kaitaia
    • Whangārei
    • Dargaville
    • Auckland
    • Thames
    • Tauranga
    • Hamilton
    • Whakatāne
    • Rotorua
    • Tokoroa
    • Te Kuiti
    • Taumaranui
    • Taupō
    • Gisborne
    • New Plymouth
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Dannevirke
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Levin
    • Paraparaumu
    • Masterton
    • Wellington
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Blenheim
    • Westport
    • Reefton
    • Kaikōura
    • Greymouth
    • Hokitika
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
    • Wānaka
    • Oamaru
    • Queenstown
    • Dunedin
    • Gore
    • Invercargill
  • Meet the journalists
  • Promotions & competitions
  • OneRoof property listings
  • Driven car news

Puzzles & Quizzes

  • Puzzles
    • All Puzzles
    • Sudoku
    • Code Cracker
    • Crosswords
    • Cryptic crossword
    • Wordsearch
  • Quizzes
    • All Quizzes
    • Morning quiz
    • Afternoon quiz
    • Sports quiz

Regions

  • Northland
    • All Northland
    • Far North
    • Kaitaia
    • Kerikeri
    • Kaikohe
    • Bay of Islands
    • Whangarei
    • Dargaville
    • Kaipara
    • Mangawhai
  • Auckland
  • Waikato
    • All Waikato
    • Hamilton
    • Coromandel & Hauraki
    • Matamata & Piako
    • Cambridge
    • Te Awamutu
    • Tokoroa & South Waikato
    • Taupō & Tūrangi
  • Bay of Plenty
    • All Bay of Plenty
    • Katikati
    • Tauranga
    • Mount Maunganui
    • Pāpāmoa
    • Te Puke
    • Whakatāne
  • Rotorua
  • Hawke's Bay
    • All Hawke's Bay
    • Napier
    • Hastings
    • Havelock North
    • Central Hawke's Bay
    • Wairoa
  • Taranaki
    • All Taranaki
    • Stratford
    • New Plymouth
    • Hāwera
  • Manawatū - Whanganui
    • All Manawatū - Whanganui
    • Whanganui
    • Palmerston North
    • Manawatū
    • Tararua
    • Horowhenua
  • Wellington
    • All Wellington
    • Kapiti
    • Wairarapa
    • Upper Hutt
    • Lower Hutt
  • Nelson & Tasman
    • All Nelson & Tasman
    • Motueka
    • Nelson
    • Tasman
  • Marlborough
  • West Coast
  • Canterbury
    • All Canterbury
    • Kaikōura
    • Christchurch
    • Ashburton
    • Timaru
  • Otago
    • All Otago
    • Oamaru
    • Dunedin
    • Balclutha
    • Alexandra
    • Queenstown
    • Wanaka
  • Southland
    • All Southland
    • Invercargill
    • Gore
    • Stewart Island
  • Gisborne

Media

  • Video
    • All Video
    • NZ news video
    • Herald NOW
    • Business news video
    • Politics news video
    • Sport video
    • World news video
    • Lifestyle video
    • Entertainment video
    • Travel video
    • Markets with Madison
    • Kea Kids news
  • Podcasts
    • All Podcasts
    • The Front Page
    • On the Tiles
    • Ask me Anything
    • The Little Things
  • Cartoons
  • Photo galleries
  • Today's Paper - E-editions
  • Photo sales
  • Classifieds

NZME Network

  • Advertise with NZME
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • BusinessDesk
  • Newstalk ZB
  • Sunlive
  • ZM
  • The Hits
  • Coast
  • Radio Hauraki
  • The Alternative Commentary Collective
  • Gold
  • Flava
  • iHeart Radio
  • Hokonui
  • Radio Wanaka
  • iHeartCountry New Zealand
  • Restaurant Hub
  • NZME Events

SubscribeSign In
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.
Home / Sport / Cricket / Black Caps

Chris Rattue: Bring on Australia - but send off that boring test cricket from Mount Maunganui

Chris Rattue
By Chris Rattue
Sports Writer·NZ Herald·
24 Nov, 2019 04:00 AM4 mins to read

Subscribe to listen

Access to Herald Premium articles require a Premium subscription. Subscribe now to listen.
Already a subscriber?  Sign in here

Listening to articles is free for open-access content—explore other articles or learn more about text-to-speech.
‌
Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Mitchell Santner heads back to the dressing room after his century in the first test against England at Mount Maunganui. Photo / Photosport

Mitchell Santner heads back to the dressing room after his century in the first test against England at Mount Maunganui. Photo / Photosport

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

COMMENT:

Preparing to beat Australia in a test series.

That is what really matters for the Kiwi cricketers this summer, as history offers an exalted place to Kane Williamson, Trent Boult, Ross Taylor and co.

A win across the ditch in a series which includes the prestigious Melbourne Boxing Day test would be remembered forever. The rest - including the two-match series being played against England - will be forgotten over time, win or lose.

READ MORE:
• Chris Rattue: Horrible All Black tumble a great day for rugby
• Chris Rattue: It's time for the All Blacks to drop the haka in the name of winning
• Chris Rattue: The real standouts from the All Blacks' victory over Ireland
• Chris Rattue: Where did Super-coach Eddie Jones go?

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

But that's no reason to offer up some of the nonsense we endured from Mount Maunganui, including on the fourth day of the first test.

The pitch was dead, the Kiwi batting was likewise, and England looked disheartened. Not good enough. Test cricket can't plod on like this, or else a lot of it will plod no more.

That's not to deride BJ Watling's magnificent test heart. He is a gem, a battler who has won an army of fans. Century maker Mitchell Santner had a great day in his career. I don't want to detract from their efforts, but it's also hard not to.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

The lack of attacking intent in the first session from New Zealand was a poor advert for test cricket, months after the same sides produced stunning World Cup final drama which will never be forgotten. If the Kiwis run out of time in the pursuit of victory, they can blame themselves.

Scoring under 60 runs in a session on a beautiful day, when holding the advantage, is just not acceptable in the modern sports age. And if the pitch was to blame, then why are we preparing dud surfaces?

Discover more

Black Caps

The good, the bad and the bizarre: Black Caps v England, day one

21 Nov 06:30 AM
Black Caps

The good, the bad and the bizarre: Black Caps v England, day two

22 Nov 06:40 AM
Black Caps

Paul Lewis: Black Caps' odd selections raise troubling questions

23 Nov 02:20 AM
Black Caps

Black Caps v England day three: What you may have missed

23 Nov 06:00 AM

New Zealand was on top, and there was a chance to at least try to capture a Sunday morning audience on TV. But the floating voter would have headed into the garden or washed the car instead.

It would be better to risk a flamboyant defeat in the chase for victory than inflict a safety-first headache on the dwindling test public.

BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner shared a 261-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Photo / Photosport
BJ Watling and Mitchell Santner shared a 261-run partnership for the seventh wicket. Photo / Photosport

There should be so much to get excited about this summer.

New Zealand's only truly great campaign across the ditch was over 30 years ago when the maestro Richard Hadlee was in command.

The upcoming three-test series in Australia could - fingers crossed - be a magnificent contest, the chance for a famous Kiwi victory, although the way Australia flexed its muscles against Pakistan was daunting.

In particular, the Boxing Day test in Melbourne offers New Zealand a rare chance to grab a wider home audience and more of the spotlight on the world stage.

Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

And there will be a gathering of the clan in Melbourne.

Anecdotal evidence suggests Kiwis are preparing to flock to the mighty MCG from here and around Australia. (A friend reckons his son is heading there from New Zealand with 30 mates).

But they would have been flocking away from the Mt Maunganui test on Sunday.

Who knows what the instructions were, but Sunday morning's first session was a bloody snore and for no good reason, as Watling and Santner built a lead for New Zealand, brick by agonising brick.

If New Zealand's aim was to wear England down, they did an admirable job. The trouble is, they will have taken a lot of spectators down with them. Test cricket, a marginal prospect, needs something more vibrant than that.

Even the touring Barmy Army had trouble raising voice as the Kiwi pair poked about on a flat track and England went through the motions.

Test cricket could hold something amazing in store for Kiwi fans this summer. But when it comes to some of what went on in Mount Maunganui – no thanks.

Save

    Share this article

    Reminder, this is a Premium article and requires a subscription to read.

Latest from Black Caps

Black Caps

'Best place I've been': Jamieson puts injury woes behind him

28 Jun 12:00 AM
Black Caps

T20 freelancers commit to Walter's first Black Caps squad for T20 tri-series

26 Jun 06:00 PM
Black Caps

NZ Cricket understands fan frustration over lack of home tests

26 Jun 12:00 AM

There’s more to Hawai‘i than beaches and buffets – here’s how to see it differently

sponsored
Advertisement
Advertise with NZME.

Latest from Black Caps

'Best place I've been': Jamieson puts injury woes behind him

'Best place I've been': Jamieson puts injury woes behind him

28 Jun 12:00 AM

The 30-year-old has his sights locked on the Black Caps' huge home summer.

T20 freelancers commit to Walter's first Black Caps squad for T20 tri-series

T20 freelancers commit to Walter's first Black Caps squad for T20 tri-series

26 Jun 06:00 PM
NZ Cricket understands fan frustration over lack of home tests

NZ Cricket understands fan frustration over lack of home tests

26 Jun 12:00 AM
Three tests, surplus of Twenty20s as Black Caps summer fixtures announced

Three tests, surplus of Twenty20s as Black Caps summer fixtures announced

24 Jun 06:00 PM
From early mornings to easy living
sponsored

From early mornings to easy living

NZ Herald
  • About NZ Herald
  • Meet the journalists
  • Newsletters
  • Classifieds
  • Help & support
  • Contact us
  • House rules
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of use
  • Competition terms & conditions
  • Our use of AI
Subscriber Services
  • NZ Herald e-editions
  • Daily puzzles & quizzes
  • Manage your digital subscription
  • Manage your print subscription
  • Subscribe to the NZ Herald newspaper
  • Subscribe to Herald Premium
  • Gift a subscription
  • Subscriber FAQs
  • Subscription terms & conditions
  • Promotions and subscriber benefits
NZME Network
  • The New Zealand Herald
  • The Northland Age
  • The Northern Advocate
  • Waikato Herald
  • Bay of Plenty Times
  • Rotorua Daily Post
  • Hawke's Bay Today
  • Whanganui Chronicle
  • Viva
  • NZ Listener
  • Newstalk ZB
  • BusinessDesk
  • OneRoof
  • Driven Car Guide
  • iHeart Radio
  • Restaurant Hub
NZME
  • About NZME
  • NZME careers
  • Advertise with NZME
  • Digital self-service advertising
  • Book your classified ad
  • Photo sales
  • NZME Events
  • © Copyright 2025 NZME Publishing Limited
TOP