New Zealand are anticipating that their recent participation in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India will facilitate their adjustment to the prevailing conditions in Bangladesh as they begin their campaign for the ICC World Test Championship this week.
The Black Caps were eliminated from the 50-over World Cup in the semi-finals with a disappointing 70-run loss to eventual runners-up India. They must quickly shift their attention to the longest form of the game when they begin a two-match Test series against Bangladesh in Sylhet on Tuesday.
The upcoming series will mark New Zealand’s inaugural participation in the current World Test Championship cycle. Daryl Mitchell, a crucial batsman for his team striving to qualify for a second final subsequent to their triumph in the inaugural final in 2021, is anticipating a swift commencement to the competition.
However, with a total of fourteen Tests scheduled for the New Zealanders during the current cycle, Mitchell is cognizant of the fact that his team still has considerable progress to make before it can consider a possible appearance in the World Test Championship final at Lord’s in the mid-2025.
“We obviously know it is the end goal,” Mitchell said. “That’s what every country taking part in the World Test Championship wants to do. For us, it is about making small goals. Trying to tick off games as we go. First, we have to take on Bangladesh. It is always a tough challenge in Bangladesh.
“Conditions are foreign to us as Kiwis so it is about adapting as quickly as we can to these surfaces, and getting stuck to win little moments. It is what we are speaking about. We are not looking too far ahead. At the same time, you want to be part of those big games. That’s why you play Test cricket.”
Mitchell’s performance at the osteopathic crease was a significant factor in New Zealand’s progression to the knockout stage of the World Cup. The right-handed batsman accumulated 552 runs and two centuries to rank fifth in run-scoring for the tournament.
It was also instrumental in Mitchell being named to the official ICC Team of the Tournament, an honor that the 32-year-old described as a tremendous honor to share with such a group of exceptionally talented players.
“It is cool to be recognized with (a place in the World Cup team of the tournament). It means you are contributing to the team and helping to win games,” Mitchell said.
“There’s not much time to reflect. We are straight into Test cricket. You want to stay present, and be ready to go for the Test team. But also, a very special eight weeks in India. Those memories will last a lifetime.”
Mitchell is also confident that the fact that his team performed admirably on spin-friendly fields during the World Cup will serve them well when Bangladeshi conditions are anticipated to be comparable.
“It would have been a big change if we came from the green wickets of New Zealand straight to Bangladesh,” he said. “But for the majority of our group here, they have been in the World Cup. They have been practicing on slower and turning surfaces so that it helps us in this Test series.”
“A bit more patience is required going from white ball to Test cricket. You can breathe and relax a little bit. The surfaces are turning. We will keep adapting. We will see what we get on day one.
“It is always special to play in that tournament (World Cup) in front of millions of people. It is also about recognising what an opportunity we have here at the start of the World Test Championship. How much it means to wear that baggy with the silver fern on.”
New Zealand squad: Tim Southee (c), Tom Blundell (wk), Devon Conway, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Daryl Mitchell, Henry Nicholls, Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson, Will Young
