“Now is not the time for sprinklers,” read one of the signs along the Sunday drive into Mount Maunganui. Although the local authorities were not referring to the weather, the sentiment was nonetheless applicable.
Even though Cyclone Gabrielle had not yet made landfall on New Zealand’s North Island, heavy rain and strong gusts were already impacting The Bay of Plenty. Residents were warned to stock up on food over the next 48 hours and to have sandbags available. Unpredictability seemed inevitable.
Brendon McCullum pushed his England squad to “rush towards the danger” before their pursuit of 299 at Trent Bridge last summer, but this time they paused for a BBQ at his home in Matamata during the 90-minute journey up from Hamilton.
The head coach quipped upon his departure that he would “find a solution” to defeat soggy sausages.
In addition, preparations for the first Test at Bay Oval were anticipated to be impacted by the approaching tropical cyclone. Ollie Robinson, a member of the assault slated to face Tim Southee’s hosts on Thursday, was certain that he and his colleagues would be prepared regardless of any rained-out training sessions.
Robinson was less convinced with the pink Kookaburra ball used in the opener of the series and the concept of day-night Test cricket in general. During last week’s two-day warm-up at Seddon Park, there was little discernible swing, which the 29-year-old utilized to great effect as he and Jimmy Anderson overcame Pakistan’s placid grounds and shared 17 wickets in a 3-0 victory.
Robinson, before the team departs for the coast, stated, “I’m not a huge admirer of it.” “We’ve been trying to encourage them to swing for the past week, but they’ve been pretty inconsistent, and the seam on the surface has become a bit tackier. They are not the standard cricket ball. Jimmy [Anderson] is unhappy with the situation.
There is nothing wrong with traditional Test cricket. I do not believe it is necessary to play these pink-ball games. They are somewhat gimmicky. They’re attempting to attract fans and alter the game, but I don’t believe it’s necessary given England’s current performance. As we are, we entertain people.”
Robinson calls pink ball “gimmicky”
This last statement demonstrates how devoted the England cricket team is to the sport at the moment, even if it risks upsetting certain individuals. Robinson’s record in first-class day-night matches is quite respectable, as the 6ft 5 right-armer has taken 16 wickets at a rate of 21.06 in four appearances.
It may be due to terrible recollections of his last pink-ball Test in Hobart just over a year ago when after two early wickets he became a passenger due to back spasms, or it could be a result of England losing their previous five under lights. To be fair, excluding prime-time television viewing hours, the format does feel needless.
Robinson favours the red Kookaburra ball for two County Championship rounds this year. “When first using it, you must be so much more accurate in everything you do,” he explained.
“It does not sway or seam as much as before. It may alert county bowlers to the difficulty of using this ball in England and elsewhere.”
Steve Smith
Robinson is also excited to have Steve Smith as a teammate at Hove this summer, as the Australian middle-order maestro has signed a three-match contract with Sussex to prepare for the Ashes. Last month’s announcement sparked some concern, but the Englishman is among many who see a positive.
Robinson stated, “I hope to understand a bit more about him.” “I have found him difficult to bowl at times, as have others. To understand his batting and how to reject him, observe him further. “It would be helpful if he could provide me with any ideas or advice.”
Even though England’s players were still closely monitoring their innings and 132-run thrashing in Nagpur after being smacked by Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, the current status of Australia in India is less significant.
“It is difficult to pick up a few pieces when the pitch is like that. “It’s always gratifying to see Australia lose,” Robinson remarked.
