New Zealand’s crushing one-day series victory over India represents a timely win for the underdog as cricket’s superpowers move to seize control of the world game
Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum
New Zealand’s crushing one-day series victory over India represents a timely win for the underdog as cricket’s superpowers move to seize control of the world game, New Zealand media said yesterday.
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Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum
The Black Caps defeated India by seven wickets in Hamilton on Tuesday, sealing the five-match series with a game to spare after a string of lacklustre performances from the tourists.
The New Zealand Herald said the result showed the value of the so-called “minnow” nations, amid fears they will miss out if the wealthy trio of India, England and Australia succeed in a plan to tighten their grip on the world game.
“(It’s) a victory it’s hoped will resonate as much with the Indian board and a global game in crisis, as it will with local fans,” the daily said.
Fairfax New Zealand echoed the sentiment saying the Black Caps’ win was a triumph “for the little guys of world cricket”.
“As India sought to strengthen their already dominant position as cricket’s leviathan, minnows New Zealand sent a timely reminder that the underdogs shouldn’t be overlooked... (they) struck an on-field blow for those countries expected to be handicapped by the proposal’s plans,” it said.
India, the reigning world champions, arrived in New Zealand sitting at No 1 in the ODI rankings and were expected to steamroll the eighth-ranked Black Caps.
Instead, the New Zealanders have claimed three convincing victories under pugnacious skipper Brendon McCullum, with India’s best performance coming when they salvaged a dramatic tie in the third match of the series.
As a result, India have slipped to No 2 in the rankings behind Australia, while New Zealand have moved up a place to seventh.
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