For many Kiwis, 1985/86 was the golden era cricket – names like Hadlee, Cairns and Wright were the names kids would rattle off in the school yards claiming they wanted to be them.
But fast forward 30 years and now its names like McCullum, and Bay of Plenty's own Kane Williamson and Trent Boult who youngsters want to emulate in the school yard.
Black Caps cricketers Kane Williams (left) and Trent Boult in action. Photo: File.
For Trent having the ability to move the cricket ball both ways at pace has meant he is a vital cog in the Black Caps armoury and now he wants to put that weapon to good use and hopefully create his own bit of history.
The 26-year-old has a world-class average of 27.12 from his 32 Tests, and barring injury will be a certainty for the three-Test series against Australia — he says it would be a career highlight to record a Test series win against the old foe.
The last, and only, time the team have won a test series across the ditch came in the season of 1985/86 when Sir Richard Hadlee famously ripped through the Aussies with his career-best bowling performance of 9/52 at The 'Gabba. Bowling figures no other Black Cap has managed to emulate.
Trent, who was born four years later in 1989, told blackcaps.co.nz he was well aware of the historic day in Brisbane, and knows the folklore that followed the series win.
'Thirty years is a long time and it is time to make some new history. Obviously that was before my time, but I have heard all of the stories and know the legendary story of Richard Hadlee being unplayable at The Gabba.
"That was some performance, and is still regarded as one of our finest test series wins. To be part of something like that would be really special.”
Rested from the tour of South Africa and Zimbabwe as a precaution following signs of stress to his back, Boult says he is feeling refreshed after a conditioning window in New Zealand.
'I can't remember the last time that I had three months off from cricket — it has been nice to get away from the game and get my body right. I am chomping at the bit to get back into it.”
The best part of being home was enjoying some golf and getting out for the occasional fishing day. His back, after the exceptional workload that started 2015, is feeling good, he has enjoyed the chance to get back into the gym — and also to mentally refresh.
He believes the test team will head across the Tasman full of confidence after going undefeated through their past seven test series, against top opposition all around the world.
'This test team has enjoyed a great 18 months or so together where we have played in conditions all around the world and enjoyed some success.
The list of teams the team has played both at home and abroad in the past seven series include England (away), Sri Lanka (home), Pakistan (away), West Indies (away), India (home), West Indies (home) and Bangladesh (away).
But Boult says this test series is the team's biggest challenge yet.
'Taking on our friendly neighbours across the ditch in their conditions… it doesn't get any better than that in terms of a challenge. The fact that it is a three-test series as part of the five for the summer is even better.
'We are well led by Brendon, and we have bought into an attacking brand of cricket that we enjoy playing. That experience breeds some confidence in the group, but we know that Australia will be a step up again and they will be looking to bounce back from the Ashes. It will be a great series.”
Boult says it is hard to know who will be playing for Australia yet and he will be watching their upcoming series with Bangladesh with some interest. But he says whoever they pick will be tough to beat.
'They have an incredible record at home and even though there will be some new faces, they will come into their set-up and expect to perform straight away.
'The depth of Australian cricket has always been their strength, so it is up to us to start well and put them under pressure.”
Boult knows it will be a different tour for more than one reason — most notably the historic third Test in Adelaide, which will be played as a day/night match with a pink ball for the first time.
'It is exciting, and it's going to be great to be part of history. There are a lot of people already talking about it and the interest is only going to grow as we get closer to Adelaide.”
He admits that the ‘Pink Ball Test' is heading into the unknown, and it is going to be a very different challenge for both sides.
'I have had two sessions with the pink ball, and it feels like a hockey ball or an indoor cricket ball coming out of the hand. I was able to get it to swing a bit, but I haven't bowled with it at night yet.”
He says the team is learning a lot at the moment and is sure education will continue with a warm-up game in Hamilton on October 7-9 and two warm-up games in Australia.
'Those games are crucial for our preparation as we see how the pink ball reacts in different conditions and we get used to bowling, batting and fielding with it. We need to embrace it, and be as prepared as we can be.”
Hopefully in many years' time, when New Zealand Cricket fans reflect on history being made in a 2015 Test series in Australia, the story includes a famous and long-awaited series win for the Black Caps.
Black Caps 2015/2016 schedule:
BLACKCAPS v Prime Minister's XI
Friday October 23, 2015 4pm (NZ Time)–Manuka Oval, Canberra
Mens One-Day Match – BLACKCAPS tour of Australia
BLACKCAPS v Cricket Australia XI
Saturday October 24, 2015 12.30pm (NZ Time)–Manuka Oval, Canberra
Mens Multi-Day Match – BLACKCAPS tour of Australia
BLACKCAPS v Cricket Australia XI
Thursday October 29, 2015 12.30pm (NZ Time)–Blacktown International Sports Park, Sydney
First Class Match – BLACKCAPS tour of Australia
BLACKCAPS v Australia
Thursday November 5, 2015 –The Gabba, Brisbane
Test Match – BLACKCAPS tour of Australia
BLACKCAPS v Australia
Friday November 13, 2015 –The WACA, Perth
Test Match – BLACKCAPS tour of Australia
BLACKCAPS v Cricket Australia XI
Saturday November 21, 2015 7pm (NZ Time)–The WACA, Perth
First Class Match – BLACKCAPS tour of Australia
BLACKCAPS v Australia
Friday November 27, 2015 –Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Test Match – BLACKCAPS tour of Australia
BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka
Thursday December 10, 2015 10.30am–University Oval, Dunedin
Test Match – ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka
BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka
Friday December 18, 2015 10.30am–Seddon Park, Hamilton
Test Match – ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka
BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka
Saturday December 26, 2015 11am–Hagley Oval, Christchurch
ODI – ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka
BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka
Monday December 28, 2015 11am–Hagley Oval, Christchurch
ODI – ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka
BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka
Thursday, 31 December 2015 11:00am–Saxton Oval, Nelson
ODI – ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka
BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka
Saturday January 2, 2016 11am–Saxton Oval, Nelson
ODI – ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka
BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka
Tuesday January 5, 2016 11am–Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui
ODI – ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka
BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka
Thursday January 7, 2016 3pm–Bay Oval, Mt Maunganui
International Twenty-20 – ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka
BLACKCAPS v Sri Lanka
Sunday January 10, 2016 3pm–Eden Park, Auckland
International Twenty-20 – ANZ International Series v Sri Lanka
BLACKCAPS v Pakistan
Friday January 15, 2016 –Eden Park, Auckland
International Twenty-20 – ANZ International Series v Pakistan
BLACKCAPS v Pakistan
Sunday January 17, 2016 7pm–Seddon Park, Hamilton
International Twenty-20 – ANZ International Series v Pakistan
BLACKCAPS v Pakistan
Friday January 22, 2016 7pmWestpac Stadium, Wellington
International Twenty-20 – ANZ International Series v Pakistan
BLACKCAPS v Pakistan
Monday January 25, 2016 11am–Basin Reserve, Wellington
ODI – ANZ International Series v Pakistan
BLACKCAPS v Pakistan
Thursday January 28, 2016 2pm–McLean Park, Napier
ODI – ANZ International Series v Pakistan
BLACKCAPS v Pakistan
Sunday January 31, 2016 11am–Eden Park, Auckland
ODI – ANZ International Series v Pakistan
BLACKCAPS v Australia
Wednesday February 3, 2016 2pm–Eden Park, Auckland
ODI – ANZ International Series v Australia
BLACKCAPS v Australia
Saturday February 6, 2016 2pm–Westpac Stadium, Wellington
ODI – ANZ International Series v Australia
BLACKCAPS v Australia
Monday February 8, 2016 2pm–Seddon Park, Hamilton
ODI – ANZ International Series v Australia
BLACKCAPS v Australia
Friday February 12, 2016 10.30am–Basin Reserve, Wellington
Test Match – ANZ International Series v Australia
BLACKCAPS v Australia
Saturday February 20, 2016 10.30am–Hagley Oval, Christchurch
Test Match – ANZ International Series v Australia
2 comments
jmac
Posted on 03-10-2015 13:25 | By JohnMac
It is difficult to really fully appreciate just how good these guys are. They are up against tough opposition every time they play and they do achieve great results. Well done Black Caps and especially those from the BOP
Completly agreed.
Posted on 03-10-2015 17:39 | By keepitgreen
As bay of plenty locals we should be proud of what these two young players are achieving. Well done to the clubs and schools who helped develop them into world leading athletes.
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