Pie Chucker

New Zealand flew into London this week ahead of the Test Series against England, but five of their players are performing in the Indian Premier League (IPL) and will join up later.  Stand in captain Jamie ‘9 caps’ How will lead the side until Daniel Vettori’s bank account has exploded and the bespectacled one arrives to take over. 

Coach John Bracewell told the press he had already spoken to Vettori:  “His new best friend is Glenn McGrath, so there you go.”

Now much as we at Pie Chucker love Test Cricket, we were prepared to give this Twenty20 business a chance.  Does it really corrupt the game?  We thought perhaps not… but a decent man like Vettori becoming friends with Glenda?  This is sick and disgusting. 

New Zealand’s leaders gave us some fighting talk to mull over as New Zealand prepare to tour England and Scotland.  Bracewell admitted that starting a tour without his captain (and four other key players - which seems utterly ridiculous) was “never ideal”, but a “reality of the landscape we live in”, giving in to the inevitable domination of cricket by Twenty20 competitions early doors.  Jamie How meanwhile inspired his second string squad with the words: “I think everyone wishes they were in India.”

Perhaps it was a difficult flight, but New Zealand sound like they’re beaten already (we’re talking Test Matches here; it goes without saying that the Tourists will win the ODI series.)  Will the arrival of their better players will give the morale a lift?  After all, their opposition is only England.

Tour Dates

15th May - 1st Test, Lords

23rd May - 2nd Test, Old Trafford

5th June - 3rd Test, Trent Bridge

13-28 June - ODIs