Brendon McCullum relied too much on youth in the second Test, while persistence paid dividends for New Zealand
In December 2020 Henry Nicholls was a fixture in the New Zealand team, batting at No 5, but he was under pressure. In nine Tests since the end of their series against Bangladesh in early 2019 he averaged only 20.33. But they stuck with him and in his next game, against West Indies in Wellington, he scored 174 and was named player of the match.
“In another time he may not have been offered that opportunity,” said one of the commentators covering the match on domestic television. “There’s many cases where guys haven’t had a sustained period to be able to find form, but a mark of this New Zealand side is their selection consistency, and they’re being rewarded.”
Continue reading... https://ift.tt/9hHodPK June 21, 2026 at 11:57PM
Brendon McCullum relied too much on youth in the second Test, while persistence paid dividends for New Zealand
In December 2020 Henry Nicholls was a fixture in the New Zealand team, batting at No 5, but he was under pressure. In nine Tests since the end of their series against Bangladesh in early 2019 he averaged only 20.33. But they stuck with him and in his next game, against West Indies in Wellington, he scored 174 and was named player of the match.
“In another time he may not have been offered that opportunity,” said one of the commentators covering the match on domestic television. “There’s many cases where guys haven’t had a sustained period to be able to find form, but a mark of this New Zealand side is their selection consistency, and they’re being rewarded.”
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The high-spirited and eccentric annual event attracts large crowds to the spectacle of fancy dress soapboxes racing – and falling apart – on a downhill course with hazards aplenty
Continue reading... https://ift.tt/pMK92hu June 21, 2026 at 12:32AM
The high-spirited and eccentric annual event attracts large crowds to the spectacle of fancy dress soapboxes racing – and falling apart – on a downhill course with hazards aplenty
Continue reading...
Despite finishing third in the regular season table Exeter Chiefs are confident they can cause an upset at Twickenham
Prem finals do not always unfold as anticipated. Six of the last seven editions have been settled by six points or fewer and favourites are not guaranteed to have it their own way. Remember Freddie Burns’ late drop-goal to edge Leicester past Saracens in 2022? Or Harlequins coming from behind against Exeter the previous year? In Twickenham’s summer heat – it’s uncanny how often the weather plays ball – the best of plans can easily go awol.
In 2024 Bath were undone after Beno Obano’s first-half red card and 12 months ago Michael Cheika’s Leicester came within a couple of points of causing a big upset. The common denominator? Finals can be unpredictable occasions and, under pressure, what looked a dead cert last week becomes as relevant as last year’s lottery numbers.
Continue reading... https://ift.tt/KJXEHCW June 19, 2026 at 08:00PM
Despite finishing third in the regular season table Exeter Chiefs are confident they can cause an upset at Twickenham
Prem finals do not always unfold as anticipated. Six of the last seven editions have been settled by six points or fewer and favourites are not guaranteed to have it their own way. Remember Freddie Burns’ late drop-goal to edge Leicester past Saracens in 2022? Or Harlequins coming from behind against Exeter the previous year? In Twickenham’s summer heat – it’s uncanny how often the weather plays ball – the best of plans can easily go awol.
In 2024 Bath were undone after Beno Obano’s first-half red card and 12 months ago Michael Cheika’s Leicester came within a couple of points of causing a big upset. The common denominator? Finals can be unpredictable occasions and, under pressure, what looked a dead cert last week becomes as relevant as last year’s lottery numbers.
Continue reading...