Will Kiwis listen to Bob Simpson’s cricketing tips ??

It was sorry to watch Kiwis getting defeated finally by the

Should I take his advice seriously ?

Aussies on Day 5 at Wellington, even as their wicket keeper Brandon Mucclum was going hammer and tongs on Day 4 of the game. The heroics of captain Daniel Vettori and useful contribution made by Tuffy (47 Not out) could not deny the visitors’ victory, but it could not thwart home team’s defeat.

One found it strange to read in Kiwi newspapers that NZ fight back in the second innings had given some anxious moments to rekindle the memories of Kolkata Test of 2001, when Aussies were defeated by India, even as the Kangaroos had asked the India to follow on.

How many times, the Kiwis would go on loosing against their Trans – Tasman rival? Do they come under pressure while facing Kangaroos? Is there are any psychological barrier, while taking them on? These are the many questions, that ponder my mind (as a Kiwi supporter), while watching matches live in Mumbai, India.

Well, those of who watched ‘live’ the interview of veteran Aussie cricketer, captain, coach and great think Bob Simpson on Day 4 when the weather was playing havoc at Basin Reserve, at 130 Km/hrs, should consider ourselves lucky. Simpson harped on only single factor, ‘Go the basics’, this is where the Kiwis terribly lag behind, though Simpson did not explicitly say so. Simpson observed that Kiwi batsmen do not watch the ball at the point or time of release, but on the other hand, they watch the ‘spot’, where the red cherry will probably land, which makes them play slightly late while hitting the delivery.

One wonders, when the domestic circuit in NZ is so well knit, why can’t NZ team should always find 3rd from the bottom in Test and ODI rankings just little ahead of Bangladesh and Zimbabwe.

When NZ have produced great cricketers like Sir Richard Hadlee, Glenn Turner, John Wright, Martin Crow, Stephen Flemming, Daniel Vettori, why can’t it be a good bunch of 11 good cricketers with a good ‘fighting spirit’.? One feels that the mindset of Kiwis while playing Kangaroos is akin to the mindset of Indians, while playing against Pakistan during Imran Khan’s era. Zero confidence level.

While new bunch of cricketers in the Kiwi side are quite promising, why can’t they form a good cohesive unit? Hope,

Black Caps would take Bob Simpson’s advice very seriously and retrospect and would give us some moments to cheer in the 2nd and final Test that would be played on 27th at Hamilton !