1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,787 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,747 --> 00:00:14,507 Speaker 2: The black Caps are on their way to Sri Lanka, 4 00:00:14,507 --> 00:00:17,747 Speaker 2: where they'll play two Test matches against the home side, 5 00:00:17,827 --> 00:00:22,107 Speaker 2: both at Gaul International Stadium, the first of which starts 6 00:00:22,187 --> 00:00:25,787 Speaker 2: on Wednesday, weather permitting, of course. Speaking of the weather, 7 00:00:25,867 --> 00:00:29,587 Speaker 2: of course, the scheduled only Test between New Zealand and 8 00:00:29,667 --> 00:00:34,027 Speaker 2: Afghanistan in India was completely abandoned due to rain. Not 9 00:00:34,107 --> 00:00:37,787 Speaker 2: a single ball bowled across the five days, so any 10 00:00:38,107 --> 00:00:42,387 Speaker 2: useful preparation that that might have provided completely lost to 11 00:00:42,467 --> 00:00:45,547 Speaker 2: the black Caps. Unfortunately. Coach of the side is Gary Steed, 12 00:00:45,587 --> 00:00:47,627 Speaker 2: who joins us now. How do you reflect back on 13 00:00:47,667 --> 00:00:50,307 Speaker 2: the last week, Gary and the frustration of not being 14 00:00:50,347 --> 00:00:52,827 Speaker 2: able to get any cricket in at all. 15 00:00:54,147 --> 00:00:56,907 Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean it was frustrating that we couldn't get 16 00:00:56,947 --> 00:01:01,147 Speaker 3: on and play cricket, but unfortunately the amount of rainment 17 00:01:01,227 --> 00:01:04,187 Speaker 3: that came down made that sort of just a reality 18 00:01:04,267 --> 00:01:07,507 Speaker 3: for us that we're looking or to get into Sri 19 00:01:07,587 --> 00:01:11,187 Speaker 3: Lanka now is obviously a big Test series in front 20 00:01:11,187 --> 00:01:14,947 Speaker 3: of us and starting in four or five days from now. 21 00:01:15,267 --> 00:01:17,947 Speaker 2: Did it ever feel at any stage during the week 22 00:01:18,027 --> 00:01:19,067 Speaker 2: like you might get some cricketer. 23 00:01:20,947 --> 00:01:21,787 Speaker 4: Yeah, not really. 24 00:01:21,907 --> 00:01:24,227 Speaker 3: I mean the sun obviously shine a little bit in 25 00:01:24,347 --> 00:01:27,067 Speaker 3: the first couple of days, but that I think it 26 00:01:27,107 --> 00:01:30,627 Speaker 3: was twelve hundred millimeters of rain over that sort of 27 00:01:30,667 --> 00:01:34,387 Speaker 3: week period, so days three, four or five it didn't 28 00:01:34,427 --> 00:01:37,667 Speaker 3: really stop raining at all. So yeah, it became pretty unrealistic. 29 00:01:37,907 --> 00:01:39,667 Speaker 2: So how did you win the players past the time? 30 00:01:40,587 --> 00:01:43,507 Speaker 3: Look, I mean the guys you generally go down to 31 00:01:43,507 --> 00:01:46,707 Speaker 3: the ground early and just wait, wait until the game's 32 00:01:46,747 --> 00:01:49,587 Speaker 3: either abandoned for the day and head back go to 33 00:01:49,627 --> 00:01:50,027 Speaker 3: the gym. 34 00:01:50,347 --> 00:01:53,187 Speaker 4: There's a bit of cards. 35 00:01:53,347 --> 00:01:57,987 Speaker 3: Or monopoly deal or some scouting of the opposition and 36 00:01:58,427 --> 00:02:01,067 Speaker 3: hallway cricket as well, so we've got a we had 37 00:02:01,067 --> 00:02:03,787 Speaker 3: a nice little area there that guys could just make 38 00:02:03,827 --> 00:02:04,187 Speaker 3: around a. 39 00:02:04,147 --> 00:02:07,507 Speaker 2: Week bit some cricket and I guess how disappointing though? 40 00:02:07,587 --> 00:02:10,547 Speaker 2: Was this garry as a missed opportunity ahead of you know, 41 00:02:10,587 --> 00:02:13,187 Speaker 2: some big Test matches against Sri Lanka and India. 42 00:02:13,987 --> 00:02:16,747 Speaker 4: Yeah, there's no doubt it is a missed opportunity. 43 00:02:16,787 --> 00:02:20,147 Speaker 3: I mean, whilst there's no wild Tiess Championship points on it, 44 00:02:20,147 --> 00:02:23,107 Speaker 3: it was still the opportunity for us I think to 45 00:02:23,107 --> 00:02:26,907 Speaker 3: get match hardened and get in that I guess, real 46 00:02:27,187 --> 00:02:31,547 Speaker 3: real game practice and unfortunately that it wasn't to be 47 00:02:31,627 --> 00:02:33,947 Speaker 3: the case. But the sort of the reasons that are 48 00:02:33,947 --> 00:02:34,707 Speaker 3: out of our control. 49 00:02:35,187 --> 00:02:38,227 Speaker 2: Does it make the Sri Lankan series more difficult without 50 00:02:38,267 --> 00:02:40,107 Speaker 2: having had that warm up game if. 51 00:02:40,027 --> 00:02:43,147 Speaker 4: You like, But it definitely makes it more difficult. 52 00:02:43,187 --> 00:02:45,947 Speaker 3: But look, we had three really good camps at home 53 00:02:45,987 --> 00:02:50,787 Speaker 3: before we got over here on turning wickets, so it's 54 00:02:50,787 --> 00:02:53,707 Speaker 3: not like guys haven't been preparing well. It just means 55 00:02:53,747 --> 00:02:56,427 Speaker 3: that there's been a little bit of downtime. We still 56 00:02:56,467 --> 00:03:00,387 Speaker 3: managed to train leading into the Test match and one 57 00:03:00,427 --> 00:03:02,707 Speaker 3: of the days during the Test match as well, so 58 00:03:03,587 --> 00:03:06,027 Speaker 3: it's not like the guys have been sitting doing absolutely nothing. 59 00:03:06,387 --> 00:03:08,827 Speaker 2: Sure link out. How do you assess the threat that 60 00:03:08,907 --> 00:03:10,947 Speaker 2: they'll present to you in these two Test matches? 61 00:03:12,027 --> 00:03:14,547 Speaker 3: Yeah, me and Sri Lanka are always tough, especially in their 62 00:03:14,547 --> 00:03:16,627 Speaker 3: home conditions, and they've got a very good record at 63 00:03:16,667 --> 00:03:19,067 Speaker 3: goal where we're playing both Test matches as well, so 64 00:03:19,707 --> 00:03:20,427 Speaker 3: we're going. 65 00:03:20,227 --> 00:03:22,267 Speaker 4: To have to play very well. 66 00:03:22,347 --> 00:03:25,747 Speaker 3: They are familiar with their conditions. It's one of the 67 00:03:25,787 --> 00:03:29,067 Speaker 3: reasons we have bought rangin our here on board with 68 00:03:29,147 --> 00:03:33,147 Speaker 3: us as well. He understands those local conditions and hopefully 69 00:03:33,147 --> 00:03:36,307 Speaker 3: he can assist us in our thinking when it comes. 70 00:03:36,027 --> 00:03:36,867 Speaker 4: To match time. 71 00:03:36,987 --> 00:03:37,187 Speaker 3: Yeah. 72 00:03:37,187 --> 00:03:39,027 Speaker 2: Can you tell us a bit more about what he's added. 73 00:03:39,187 --> 00:03:41,787 Speaker 2: Presumably he's been a valuable addition as you prepare for 74 00:03:41,787 --> 00:03:42,347 Speaker 2: these matches. 75 00:03:43,107 --> 00:03:43,307 Speaker 4: Yeah. 76 00:03:43,347 --> 00:03:47,427 Speaker 3: Absolutely. I mean we've had rangin Aran for this last 77 00:03:47,467 --> 00:03:51,307 Speaker 3: Test match and also Vikarim Latour as well, who was 78 00:03:51,347 --> 00:03:56,947 Speaker 3: the Indian adding coach and under Rahal Dravid. So we 79 00:03:56,987 --> 00:03:59,307 Speaker 3: have tried to, I guess get those guys. 80 00:03:58,947 --> 00:03:59,947 Speaker 4: In and around our group. 81 00:03:59,987 --> 00:04:02,987 Speaker 3: And whilst there wasn't played, there's still certainly plenty of 82 00:04:03,067 --> 00:04:04,347 Speaker 3: discussions that have been going on. 83 00:04:04,747 --> 00:04:07,067 Speaker 2: Have you got an indication as to whether the weather 84 00:04:07,467 --> 00:04:09,227 Speaker 2: will be better in Sri Lanka? 85 00:04:10,107 --> 00:04:12,507 Speaker 3: Yeah? I would expect it will be, but look, I 86 00:04:12,547 --> 00:04:15,027 Speaker 3: mean we can't again, we can't control those things. So 87 00:04:15,467 --> 00:04:17,387 Speaker 3: we'll get down there prepared as well as we can 88 00:04:17,547 --> 00:04:19,827 Speaker 3: and hopefully we get five five great days. 89 00:04:19,827 --> 00:04:21,787 Speaker 2: And do you feel confident you can match the Sri 90 00:04:21,867 --> 00:04:23,187 Speaker 2: Lankans and these two Test matches? 91 00:04:23,707 --> 00:04:23,947 Speaker 4: Yeah. 92 00:04:24,227 --> 00:04:26,427 Speaker 3: Last time we went to Sri Lanka we had a 93 00:04:26,427 --> 00:04:29,227 Speaker 3: one all draw with them in the Test series, so 94 00:04:29,387 --> 00:04:31,987 Speaker 3: we certainly know we can win over there. But then 95 00:04:31,987 --> 00:04:34,627 Speaker 3: they'll be buoyed by their recent Test victory over England 96 00:04:34,627 --> 00:04:38,667 Speaker 3: and England as well, so they are certainly playing a 97 00:04:38,667 --> 00:04:40,067 Speaker 3: good brand of cricket as well. 98 00:04:40,107 --> 00:04:41,947 Speaker 4: But I mean, you come back to to. 99 00:04:41,987 --> 00:04:45,147 Speaker 3: Sri Lanka, I'm sure their makeup of their team will 100 00:04:45,187 --> 00:04:48,227 Speaker 3: look different as well as ours does from our home. 101 00:04:48,027 --> 00:04:51,347 Speaker 2: Conditions and a current look at the World Test Championship 102 00:04:51,467 --> 00:04:53,547 Speaker 2: table shows you've got some work to do if you 103 00:04:53,587 --> 00:04:57,307 Speaker 2: want to make another World Test Championship final, including winning 104 00:04:57,667 --> 00:05:00,027 Speaker 2: a few of these upcoming tests on the subcontinent, and 105 00:05:00,067 --> 00:05:02,307 Speaker 2: they get Sri Lanka and against India. Is that a 106 00:05:02,347 --> 00:05:05,267 Speaker 2: daunting prospect for you, Gary, Look. 107 00:05:05,347 --> 00:05:07,187 Speaker 3: It's not something we think about a lot. We know 108 00:05:07,227 --> 00:05:10,947 Speaker 3: where we sit at the moment. To make that final, 109 00:05:10,987 --> 00:05:12,627 Speaker 3: you've got to be in the top two teams, which 110 00:05:12,827 --> 00:05:15,427 Speaker 3: normally means you're going to be up around that sixty 111 00:05:15,507 --> 00:05:18,747 Speaker 3: to seventy percent sort of area win rates. So that 112 00:05:18,787 --> 00:05:21,587 Speaker 3: means we probably have to win five or six of 113 00:05:21,667 --> 00:05:24,627 Speaker 3: the next nine tests and that is going to be 114 00:05:24,627 --> 00:05:26,667 Speaker 3: a tough ass, but I think this team is capable 115 00:05:26,707 --> 00:05:26,907 Speaker 3: of it. 116 00:05:27,067 --> 00:05:29,067 Speaker 2: All right. Thanks for joining us, Gary, appreciate it all 117 00:05:29,107 --> 00:05:31,307 Speaker 2: the best for these two Test matches, Gary Stead coach 118 00:05:31,347 --> 00:05:33,547 Speaker 2: of the black Caps. First Test against f Lanka starts 119 00:05:33,587 --> 00:05:36,867 Speaker 2: on Wednesday, pretty friendly viewing times for us on the 120 00:05:36,907 --> 00:05:39,387 Speaker 2: side of the world. Four thirty in the afternoon the 121 00:05:39,467 --> 00:05:41,787 Speaker 2: day's play will start, so go through to close to 122 00:05:41,827 --> 00:05:45,587 Speaker 2: midnight presumably, and let's hope there's actually some cricket to watch. 123 00:05:45,627 --> 00:05:46,947 Speaker 2: By the sounds of it and by the looks of 124 00:05:46,947 --> 00:05:51,187 Speaker 2: the forecast and the weather conditions in Gaul compared to 125 00:05:51,227 --> 00:05:53,987 Speaker 2: where they were in India for the Afghanistan Test, it 126 00:05:54,027 --> 00:05:57,147 Speaker 2: looks as though cricket is a lot more likely. 127 00:05:57,907 --> 00:06:01,067 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Faine, Listen live 128 00:06:01,187 --> 00:06:04,467 Speaker 1: to News Talk z B weekends from midday or follow 129 00:06:04,507 --> 00:06:06,107 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio.